‘Can’t Play at the Level I Want’ – Unexpected Injury Rattles 21YO Rising ATP Star as He Attempts to Figure Out a Way Out of Trouble

Holger Rune is a Danish player who has been labeled a star of the next generation by several tennis personalities worldwide. However, his current form has been rocky, marked by another early exit in the China Open even after winning his first match in a long time. After his defeat, he revealed why he exited another tournament early and could not play to his best.

Ever since Wimbledon, Rune has struggled to keep up with his opponents. He managed to play till the quarterfinal in the grass slam but exited all following tournaments in the first round. The current China Open is the only tournament since July end where he was able to win the opening round. 

Holger Rune on his recent slump

The start of the year was good for Rune. The Danish player went far into many tournaments. He even played in the finals of the Monte Carlo Masters and the Italian Open. His efforts gave hope to his fans around the world, and even many tennis veterans praised him. But since Wimbledon, Rune has not managed to go ahead of the opening round in any tournaments.

In the ongoing China Open, he managed to win his first match but found himself exiting in the second round. After his defeat, the ATP rank 4 revealed his incessant struggle with injuries, stopping him from playing his best. 

“During the clay season, I had a pinch in the L5 nerve (the fifth lumbar vertebra of the spine), so I am not very well. I know it can be fixed and now I dedicate myself to fixing it. I feel like I can’t play at the level I want, even if I want and am willing to give 100%, I can’t have the same speed in the serve and get the free points I want.”

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His injury issues have been a big obstacle in his current tour. His losses are marred due to an issue that has not been fixed yet. It is affecting the player’s abilities as he even had to withdraw from the Laver Cup due to his injuries. 

Injury plagues the Danish youngster

Wimbledon was the last time Rune managed to play at the level many expected of him. The 20-year-old Danish star fought till the quarterfinal. Many imagined that the rest of the season would fare similarly. But the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Masters, and the US Open only made Rune’s 2023 season hellish due to a sustained injury.

He managed to win his first match in almost two months in the China Open, but that stint ended quickly. Now, he is set to play in the Shanghai Masters despite his injury. The tournament will begin on 7th October, and we might see a healthier Rune in the opening round. Can he perform better and break his slump in Shanghai? Only time can tell.

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