Holger Ruhn
Inside Holger Ruhn’s Rehabilitation
Dane gives an exclusive interview to ATPTour.com
February 3, 2026
ATP Tour
Holger Rune talks about his recovery from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered in Stockholm in October.
Sam Jacott
As the biggest stars compete for the crown at the Australian Open in January, one famous name is missing from the schedule: Holger Rune.
The 22-year-old has been sidelined since suffering an Achilles tendon injury in Stockholm last October, bringing his season to an abrupt halt and setting him on an unexpected but ultimately reflective road to recovery.
“It was very unexpected,” Ruane recalled to ATPTour.com. “I wasn’t quite sure what was going on when it happened, but after that, the primary focus was what to do now and how to move forward.”
An MRI quickly confirmed the diagnosis, and surgery was performed shortly after: “Fortunately, everything went well,” Ruane said. “My surgeon did a great job, my physio was great and my team was great.”
While Rooney hasn’t played on the ATP Tour since October, being away from match play doesn’t mean a break. After a two-week coaching break, the Dane quickly resumed regular training, starting in the gym before gradually returning to the pitch in December.
“My time is actually pretty busy, which is nice,” Ruane explained. “I have a very tight schedule because there’s a lot going on in rehab. This gives me something to do during my downtime.
“After the injury, I really needed a break. I was at the end of the season and getting ready to go on vacation, but not in this way. The first two weeks as a cast went by very quickly. I relaxed, went to the gym a bit and had time to rest. It got more intense after that. I never thought it would be like this forever. I’m young and have recovered quickly so far, which is good.”
One of the most encouraging milestones was Ruane’s recent return to the court. After initially being able to hit the ball with only one leg, the former PIF ATP No. 4 is now able to train with both feet firmly planted.
“It’s amazing, especially now that I’m hitting with two legs,” Ruane said. “It started to feel really good. It was good before, but it’s different when you know what you’re capable of. It’s more fun now because I can actually put some energy behind the ball.
“There’s still a lot of rehab to do, but it’s really good to be back on the tennis court. I think it’ll be helpful to keep my swing and everything going when I get back because we don’t want to take too long of a break and cause other injuries. So far, I think we’ve used our time right.”
Away from the physio table and the driving range, Ruane has found a rare pause in an otherwise relentless career, a chance to slow down and reconnect with life outside of the Tour. Back home in Denmark, long stretches of time with family and close friends offer both comfort and new perspective, while movies, football and other sports help fill the quiet time. Even so, competition is never far away, with card games, gym challenges and anything to keep him sharp.
“It’s been great to be able to be with family and close friends more,” Ruane said. “We don’t usually have that opportunity. I watched a lot of movies, especially in the beginning after the surgery. I sat on the sofa with my legs up and watched Netflix and some James Bond. Now I went to a football match, watched other sports and tried to occupy my brain with things other than tennis. When I was in Qatar, I also watched Formula One.
“I’ve been competing since I was little. Always hungry to win and fight. On the court, I had that dragon inside me. I still have it. This injury was a moment for me to show myself how much strength I have and how much I’m willing to put in. I miss the adrenaline and competitiveness, even if it’s at home doing gym workouts or small games, just to feel it again. I’m using my competitiveness that way.”
That same drive is reflected in the plan behind his recovery. Ruane and his team relied on research and conversations with other athletes who had experienced similar setbacks to find comfort and clarity in unfamiliar situations.
“We did a lot of searches. With Achilles tendon injuries, most studies have been in older adults, many people don’t need surgery, and recovery can take up to a year,” Ruane said. “But for athletes it’s different and faster because we have surgery. Surgery is the most natural thing for me to speed up the process in a healthy way.
“A football player reached out to me. He had the same injury and came back after four and a half months. There were strict guidelines and you couldn’t skip steps. I’m strong and young so I’m sure I’ll recover quickly, but it will take hard work and smart work.”
The support from fans and other players during his time away has been a powerful reminder that this community exists outside of the competition, and Ruane admits he misses that as much as the game itself.
“That’s one of the parts I miss the most, being on the court and feeling supported. I’ve also received a lot of great messages from the players. Even though we are competitors, we are colleagues and want the best for each other,” Ruane said.
In Ruane’s absence, he has enjoyed tremendous success. Since joining the Tour in 2021, he has steadily climbed into the elite ranks of the sport. He announced himself on the biggest stage early, taking a set from Novak Djokovic in the 2021 U.S. Open qualifiers before lifting tour-level trophies in Munich and Stockholm in 2022.
Later that season, Rooney stunned the tennis world by defeating Djokovic at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris to claim the most important title of his career. The victory moved him into the top ten of the PIF ATP rankings for the first time and made him the youngest Paris champion since Boris Becker in 1986.
In the years since, he has qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, winning titles in Munich and Barcelona and consistently remaining in the top 15.
The forced pause has given Rooney valuable space to reflect on his journey so far and reassess how he meets the demands of tour life.
“When you’re playing every week, you don’t really stop and evaluate things,” Ruane said. “I think it’s about managing the game better and listening to my body more. Sometimes you ask for too much and right now it’s too much for my body. Going forward, I’m going to try to focus on the bigger picture, not just the next goal, but how I feel physically and mentally. I think that’s important for my long-term goals.
“But this break, I have a chance to look back. It means a lot [to win Barcelona]. Paris remains my most memorable victory, but every title is special. It was a perfect week last season, Indian Wells [final] It’s been a great week too. “
As Ruane continues to prepare for his return, his excitement is palpable and continues to build with each practice he returns to the court.
“I’m excited to be back,” Ruane said. “In training now, I can really focus on the ball again, which feels great. I’m looking forward to it and I think I’m going to get stronger and hopefully have more perfect weeks in my career.”
