Holger Rune set for long-awaited Denmark return

Holger Rune is expected to make his long-awaited return for Denmark against Bulgaria in the Davis Cup on September 18 and 19. The tie in Copenhagen would end an 11-month absence and give the Dane his first competitive appearance since suffering a serious injury last October.

Rune ruptured his Achilles tendon during his Stockholm semi-final against Ugo Humbert on October 18 and subsequently underwent surgery. His return was initially targeted for the Hamburg clay-court tournament in May, but he withdrew before also pulling out of the French Open, Queen’s, Wimbledon, Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open.

The extended layoff has had a major effect on his ranking. Rune was ranked 11th in the world when he was injured, but has since fallen to 133rd and is set to drop to 141st after losing the points earned from last year’s US Open second round. He is also entered for the ATP 500 event in Tokyo from September 28, with 400 points still to defend before the end of the season.

Rune has described the Copenhagen appearance as the first step after 11 months of work and said his immediate priority is to regain match rhythm rather than chase results. The Davis Cup tie will therefore test his return to competition, after several previously announced comebacks failed to materialise.