Holger Rune’s return to professional tennis ended in disappointment at the Japan Open, where the Danish player suffered a 6-3, 6-1 first-round defeat to France’s Kyrian Jacquet on Tuesday in Tokyo.
The 23-year-old Rune was competing in his first ATP Tour event following an 11-month injury layoff caused by Achilles-tendon surgery. The lengthy absence forced him to miss all four Grand Slam tournaments this year, making his comeback at the prestigious Japan Open his first competitive outing since recovering from the procedure.
Rough Return to Tour Play
Rune’s struggles against world No. 188 Jacquet were evident from the opening set, as the Frenchman controlled the match throughout. Jacquet’s dominant performance left little doubt about who would advance, with Rune unable to find his rhythm against his lower-ranked opponent. The clinical scoreline underscored the challenge of returning to elite-level competition after such an extended period away from the tour.
The ATP Tour offered encouragement despite the loss, posting on social media: “Didn’t get the win but great to have you back, @holgerrune2003 ❤️🩹” — acknowledging the significance of Rune’s return to professional play.
Road to Rebuild
With the first-round exit at the Japan Open now behind him, Rune will look to rebuild his form at the upcoming Shanghai Masters and Paris Masters events, where he’ll hope to shake off the rust from his extended time away from competition.