Ruud on Rune Injury: We’re Being Pushed to Our Limits
By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 19, 2025
Photo credit: Tennis TV Screen Shot
Casper Ruud is saddened to see Holger Rune suffer a torn Achilles tendon in Stockholm.
The former world No. 2 isn’t surprised of the injury risks given the physical demands of the ATP schedule.
Speaking to journalist Nicholas Albek of SpilXperten after his Stockholm semifinal sweep of Denis Shapovalov, Ruud said he felt extremely sad for the top-seeded Rune, who was leading Ugo Humbert 6-4, 2-2 when he ruptured his Achilles tendon.
“I think I broke it,” Rune told the trainer, who came out to provide treatment to the Dane. Rune will be sidelined at least three to six months, Aneke, Rune’s mother, wrote in a text to TV 2 Sport. Given that Rune announced he will undergo surgery, the recovery time may well be longer.
Ruud said “tennis is a brutal sport” and Rune’s injury “looked really bad.”
“It’s incredibly hard to hear. It looked really bad, and I know he’s going to be tested tomorrow, but I’ve also heard that he heard a distinct sound, which is a really bad sign,” Ruud told journalist Nicholas Albek of SpilXperten. “This type of injury is something you really can’t control, so it’s just extremely unfortunate. Tennis is a brutal sport, and as a player, you don’t want to miss several months.”
“He’s still very young, so he has a long career ahead of him, so I hope he can come back strong quickly.”
“I think tennis has now reached a point where everything moves so fast and you have to be physically ready for every single match. I’m not saying it wasn’t physical in the past, but I’m sometimes a bit surprised by how much it takes from your body to be able to play tennis.”
Not the ending anybody wanted 😔
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 18, 2025
Humbert progresses to the final as Rune retires due to injury at 6-4 2-2#BNPParibasNordicOpen pic.twitter.com/ptMV9ZkC4S
The second-seeded Ruud said players are being pushed to their limits by the punishing pro circuit calendar.
“It’s very demanding when you go straight from tournament to tournament. Holger was in Shanghai last week, and when something is that demanding, then unfortunately things like this can happen,” Rune told Nicholas Albek in Stockholm.
“We’re all in a kind of risk zone when we step out on the court, but whether his injury is directly related to the tough schedule, I’m not sure. In a way, all injuries are because of the tough schedule.”
“Of course it’s tough, and we’re really pushing our own limits to the maximum at the moment. Holger was one of those who still had a chance to make it to the ATP Finals, so his limit was definitely pushed too, and then it’s just really unfortunate that it ends this way for him. I truly wish him a speedy recovery.”
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