Holger Rune has unfinished business in Stockholm.
One year after suffering a severe Achilles injury at the tournament, Rune returned to the Bybit Stockholm Open on Tuesday with a winning performance. The Dane defeated eighth seed Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.
“It’s special coming back to Stockholm after last year. I choose to concentrate on the good memories,” said Rune, who lifted the Stockholm trophy in 2022. “It’s such a nice court, such a nice event.”
The former World No. 4 is competing this week as the No. 406 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. Rune suffered the Achilles injury during last year's semi-finals in the Swedish capital, pulling up in pain while chasing a routine forehand. The five-time ATP Tour titlist underwent surgery and missed 11 months of competition.
Now competing in his fifth ATP Tour event of the season, how does Rune feel about his physical condition?
“Very good,” said the 23-year-old. “I’ve had a year to work on it. It’s feeling good and let’s keep it that way. I’m feeling good, movement on the court and trying to build it match by match.”
Rune will play Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round. The Serbian overcame Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4.
In second-round action, third seed Lorenzo Musetti raced past British qualifier Toby Samuel 6-1, 6-4. Musetti, who won the ATP 250 event in Lyon last month, is into his seventh tour-level quarter-final of the season. Meanwhile, sixth seed Alex Michelsen is into his sixth tour-level quarter-final of 2026 after his 6-3, 6-2 win against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
