ATP Holger Rune ATP Tokio 2026

Rune apologizes after his lamentable defeat in Tokyo: "I'm sorry to everyone who came"

Fernando Murciego - 2 Oct 2026
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Holger Rune apologizes after his unfortunate return at the ATP Tokyo. Source: Getty

Holger Rune did not find refuge in excuses after making a much tougher return to the ATP circuit than expected. The Dane lost to Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet in just 54 minutes, in his first match at an ATP tournament after almost eleven months away from competition.

Far from justifying his defeat by lack of rhythm or the long period of inactivity, Rune was particularly self-critical in the message he posted afterwards on his social media. “Today I simply froze on the court,” admitted the former world No. 4, who also wanted to apologize to all the fans who came to see him in Tokyo and to those who followed the match from home.

“I’m sorry to everyone who came to support me and to everyone who was watching the match from home. Thank you for being with me,” wrote the Dane, before closing his message by congratulating Jacquet on his victory.

A return that needs time

The defeat must be understood within the complicated context surrounding Rune's return. The Dane suffered an Achilles tendon rupture in Stockholm in October 2025, an injury that required surgery and kept him away from the circuit for almost a year. His competitive return took place recently in the Davis Cup, where he achieved two victories, but Tokyo marked his true return to the ATP circuit.

In addition, he faced a fired-up Jacquet after reaching the semifinals in Hangzhou and breaking into the top 100 for the first time. The Frenchman did not concede a single break point and won all 19 points he played with his first serve. For Rune, what is needed now is to rebuild feelings and gradually regain competitive rhythm. His first ATP match after eleven months did not go as he expected, but the Dane has made it clear that he is not looking for excuses.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rune pide perdón tras su lamentable derrota en Tokio: "Lo siento por todos los que vinieron"