Key Takeaways
- Holger Rune returned to action after 335 days out with a ruptured left Achilles, defeating Iliyan Radulov 6-3, 6-3 in Denmark’s Davis Cup tie against Bulgaria.
- Rune became emotional post-match, admitting that “it’s been pretty brutal” and explaining that he got up every day to do rehab to make his return possible.
- With the tie level at 1-1, Rune is scheduled to face Grigor Dimitrov before resuming his ATP Tour calendar at the Japan Open and Shanghai Masters.
Emotional homecoming in Hillerød after 11 months on the sidelines
Holger Rune marked his return to competitive tennis with a deeply emotional victory on home soil, competing for the first time since rupturing his left Achilles tendon 335 days ago. Sidelined since suffering the severe injury during a match in Stockholm last year, the Danish star was unable to contest any of the four Grand Slam tournaments this season despite pushing for a return as early as the clay-court swing.
Stepping onto the court in Hillerød for Denmark’s Davis Cup tie against Bulgaria, Rune delivered a commanding performance to defeat Iliyan Radulov 6-3, 6-3. The triumph immediately overwhelmed the former world number four, who now sits at number 144 in the ATP rankings following his extended layoff.
Asked in his on-court interview how he felt directly after sealing match point, Rune struggled to contain his feelings, stating, “Wow it’s crazy,” before momentarily stepping back to recompose himself.
Rehab efforts rewarded in front of Danish fans
Once he regained his composure, Rune reflected on the demanding recovery process that dominated his past 11 months. He did not disguise how testing the long rehabilitation journey had been physically and mentally.
“It’s been, it’s been pretty brutal,” Rune admitted. “Obviously a super unfortunate injury that happened 11 months ago, but we have trained a whole lot. I’ve gotten up every day and done my rehab to be able to stand here today.”
The 21-year-old Danish standout also expressed his gratitude to the local supporters who packed the arena to welcome him back into action.
“So I’m proud of myself, and this is the perfect way for me to start here in Denmark, in front of the best crowd in the world. So thank you so much for coming out and supporting,” he added.
Decisive tie against Bulgaria and head-to-head with Grigor Dimitrov
Rune’s victory brought Denmark level at 1-1 against Bulgaria, setting up an intense second day featuring a doubles contest and potentially two reverse singles rubbers. Rune is slated to feature prominently once more, facing former world number three Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth rubber.
The upcoming match marks the fifth encounter between Rune and Dimitrov, with their head-to-head record perfectly balanced at two victories each across four previous hard-court and grass-court clashes.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Wimbledon (R16) | Rune beat Dimitrov, 3-6 7-6(6) 7-6(4) 6-3 |
| 2023 | China Open (R16) | Dimitrov beat Rune, 6-3 7-5 |
| 2024 | Brisbane International (F) | Dimitrov beat Rune, 7-6(5) 6-4 |
| 2024 | Monte Carlo Masters (R16) | Rune beat Dimitrov, 7-6(9) 3-6 7-6(2) |
Following his national team duties at the Davis Cup, Rune plans to make his return to the regular ATP Tour in Asia, with scheduled appearances at both the Japan Open and the Shanghai Masters.
Holger Rune in 2025
Ranked no.144, Rune played his last match on the 18th of October 2025 when he had to retire when playing against world no.33 Ugo Humbert in the semifinal and the scoreline was 4-6 2-2 .
This year Holger has managed to achieve an overall 36-22 match record.
