BREAKING: Holger Rune issues statement on ‘withdrawing from US Open’ due to horror injury
Holger Rune has revealed that he’s still hoping to make a comeback at the US Open as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles. The former world No. 4 suddenly injured himself at the Stockholm Open last October and was in tears as he retired. He soon confirmed that he’d torn his Achilles tendon and quickly underwent surgery.
The Danish star had initially hoped to make an unprecedented return just seven months later on the clay. It typically takes nine to 12 months to recover from such an injury. But Rune has yet to get back on the match court, continuing to postpone his comeback.
The 23-year-old has, however, given a positive update during an appearance on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast, in which he revealed that he was making progress on the practice courts and that his Achilles was feeling “good”.
Rune also told Roddick that he could return for Denmark’s Davis Cup World Group tie against Bulgaria, being played from September 18 to 20. Then, he’d look ahead to the Asian swing.
The Dane’s comments led many to believe that he had ruled out the US Open entirely, but Rune has now shared a new statement on his hopes of competing in Flushing Meadows. “I see conclusions on me withdrawing from UsOpen. I did not withdraw. I am working super hard everyday and as soon as I am ready, I am ready. I hope it will be UsOpen,” he tweeted.
Rune, who has dropped to No. 99 in the world during his injury layoff, has been ramping up his preparations on the practice court and even hit with the likes of Jannik Sinner and Flavio Cobolli. But he needs to “sustain” a high-level for several days in a row before he can give an exact comeback date.
I’m feeling great. It’s a long process, as we all knew it would be, but rehab is going well. Now it’s less about rehab and more about getting ready to perform again. It’s the last little performance details that are still missing, but it should be good within the next few weeks, the next month,” the five-time title winner said on Roddick’s Served podcast.
“We’re looking to maybe start my comeback with Davis Cup at home – that could be a possibility, and I would love that. Getting my comeback in front of all my Danish fans would be amazing.
“And then lead into Tokyo and Shanghai, hopefully, that’s what we’re training for. As we get close, we’ll have to see: am I ready or not? But physically I’m holding up well, the Achilles feels good, and I’m starting to see light at the end of the tunnel now.
“I trained with [Lorenzo] Musetti, with Cobolli and Alexander Muller, and hit once with Grigor Dimitrov and one time with Jannik Sinner. Every time I was like, ‘Wow, I still have work to do on my footwork’. They take the ball earlier, hit deeper and more accurately. You’re under constant pressure. That’s why they’re at the top of the game.
