Holger Rune withdraws from European Open due to back injury

Tennis player Holger Rune has withdrawn from the European Open in Brussels due to a back injury. The former world No. 4 had accepted a wildcard into the ATP 250 tournament to gain match practice following a long absence.

Rune stated on social media that his back has ‘seized up,’ but medical scans have confirmed the issue is not serious. He has been advised to rest for two to three days. This setback follows his recent recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon that required surgery.

While Rune showed promise during the Davis Cup by defeating Grigor Dimitrov, he has struggled to find form on the ATP Tour since his return, losing opening matches in Tokyo and Shanghai. Fellow players Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have expressed support, with Alcaraz emphasizing the importance of patience during the recovery process.