Holger Rune faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious Achilles injury during his semi-final match at the Stockholm Open. The Danish player, who had been competing in a packed calendar, is expected to be out for 9 to 12 months. The injury has raised concerns about the physical demands placed on top-level tennis players.
Aneke Rune calls out ATP’s tournament structure
In an interview with B.T. Sport, Rune’s mother Aneke voiced strong criticism of the ATP’s scheduling policies. “There have simply been too many mandatory tournaments,” she said. “Tournaments that the players are obliged to participate in, and where they are severely penalised financially by not playing them all. The players simply do not have time to recover properly throughout the season.”
Her comments reflect growing frustration among players and families about the lack of rest and recovery time in the professional tennis circuit.
No time to recharge or train properly
Aneke Rune highlighted how even potential rest weeks are filled with obligations. “What could have been a week off with light training and recharging is now a hectic tournament week with matches every other day, while there are mandatory media events for every single tournament. There is no rest – neither physically nor mentally.”
She also stressed the importance of training weeks to maintain fitness and prevent injuries. “You have to include training weeks where you can work physically and optimise your game and prevent injuries. It’s a lot for the body. For completely normal, healthy, well-trained bodies, it’s almost impossible to be sharp in everything that is expected of tennis players over the course of a year.”
Pressure mounts for ATP to rethink player welfare
Rune’s injury and his mother’s remarks have intensified calls for reform in how the ATP manages its calendar and player obligations. With more athletes voicing concerns about burnout and injury, the spotlight is now on tennis authorities to find a better balance between commercial demands and athlete health.
Holger Rune in 2025
Currently the world no.10, Holger played his last match on the 18th of October when he had to retire when playing against world no.24 Ugo Humbert in the semifinal and the scoreline was 4-6 2-2 .
During this season Rune has achieved a 36-22 record. This year, the Dane conquered 1 tournament in Barcelona. The Dane was the finalist in Indian Wells.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 27th of October.