Holger Rune withdraws from Hamburg Open, French Open

Holger Rune, the former world No. 4 Danish tennis player, has withdrawn from the Hamburg Open and the French Open, delaying his return from an Achilles tendon injury until the grass-court season in June.

The 23-year-old announced the decision on social media Monday, citing a need for more recovery time after experiencing knee irritation during the final stages of rehabilitation. Rune ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the semifinals of the Stockholm Open last October while leading Ugo Humbert. He underwent surgery shortly after and had initially targeted a comeback at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg next week, followed by the French Open starting May 24.

"Tough decision not to play the clay season, but the right one," Rune wrote on X. "Cant wait to see you all on the grass. Thank you to everyone for your love and support throughout my rehab, see you in not too long."

In a separate statement, he elaborated on the choice. "I was really looking forward to coming back to Hamburg, and you all know how much I love clay and how special Paris and Roland Garros have always been to me," Rune said. "This decision was therefore not easy to make. But for me, its not just about being able to...