Holger Rune has endured a trying past seven months, but at last it seems like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
After all, having ruptured his Achilles tendon back in October, it has been a torrid road to recovery for the Dane.
That being said, the speed at which he has returned to fitness is equally impressive and alarming, and it will be interesting to see how he performs when he does make his official return to action.
Speaking ahead of that date, Holger Rune has been speaking about his goals for the rest of his career, whilst also dispelling one myth he routinely hears about himself.
Holger Rune outlines what people always get wrong about him
Chatting with The Free Press Journal, the 22-year-old began by explaining his aspirations within the sport.
It’s admirable that, amongst personal gain, Rune is more focused on ensuring his legacy positively impacts sport in his home country of Denmark.
He claimed: “In Denmark, I hoped to revitalise men’s tennis, which was fading away compared to football and handball. I think I’ve already achieved that by increasing interest in the sport.
Are you worried Holger Rune is returning from injury too soon? 😬
“More boys are playing now, which is fantastic. We have the best fans in Denmark, so I’m happy that they’re now watching tennis too. Looking ahead, I hope to give people a great experience when I play. It’s not easy to explain, but the ideal scenario would be for all the spectators to feel the same emotions as me, as if we were experiencing this adventure together.
“It’s like bringing real human joy to a world that’s becoming increasingly robotic. So much of tennis is already based on data-driven tactics and development. The only original thing is personality, what we bring to the court, and the amount of emotion we share with those watching us.
“So, besides being remembered as the first Dane to win all the Grand Slams, that’s on my bucket list. I don’t think we unite people by putting cameras in bathrooms, but by giving more of ourselves as players when we’re on the court.”
Rune was then asked about the bad-boy label occasionally placed on him, earned due to some on-court tantrums he was guilty of earlier in his career.
However, he argued against this suggestion, instead stating: “I’m often surprised that people are surprised by how relaxed I am. It’s as if they think I’m always performing at my peak. I usually give it my all when I play a match or train.
“Off the court, however, I’m very calm and level-headed. I’m Danish. We don’t go around doing things. We keep our feet on the ground.”
Holger Rune to make comeback after 7 months out with injury
Despite only getting injured seven months ago, suffering a rupture that should take six to 12 months to heal, Rune is gearing up for his return to tennis this month.
He has already been announced as part of the lineup for the Hamburg Open, an ATP 500-level event held just before Roland Garros.
Is some of the tennis schedule irrelevant?
Should he enjoy a successful and complication-free comeback in Germany, then perhaps it is within reason to expect him to play at the second Grand Slam of the year as well.
Greg Rusedski has sent Rune a warning ahead of his return, with many worrying that he has rushed himself back to action. Alas, his regular progress updates have shown a seemingly seamless journey on the surface, despite all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes.
Speaking after it was announced that he’d be returning to Hamburg, Rune said: “The hard work starts in Hamburg. I can’t wait to be back on clay at the Bitpanda Hamburg Open and to finally experience the atmosphere on site again after such a long break.”
