Holger Rune has already run into an obstacle as he prepares to return to tennis.
He picked up a serious Achilles injury during the Stockholm Open in October, which eventually required surgery.
Given how long these injuries typically take to heal, there were even doubts about whether Rune would be ready for the US Open later this year.
He made his comeback earlier than many expected, returning before the French Open, but now he’s dealing with another issue.
Holger Rune to miss out on French Open seeding
Rune is due to make his comeback at the Hamburg Open, but he’s also listed for the Italian Open beforehand.
The former world number four wasn’t able to play in the Barcelona Open either, a tournament he won last year by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
That’s cost him 500 ranking points in the latest update, dropping him 12 spots down to world number 39.
This is Rune’s lowest ranking since May 2022 and it could have a major impact on his prospects at Roland Garros this year.
With no matches expected before the French Open seeding cut-off, Rune will be unseeded at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2020.
That means he could face top players like Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz right from the opening round.
The lack of seeding doesn’t just affect Rune – it also adds a layer of difficulty for others, as few seeded players would welcome facing him early, especially those less comfortable on clay.
How has Holger Rune performed at the French Open?
Although his current ranking might make things tougher for him in this year’s draw, there are still plenty of positives to take from his past performances at Roland Garros.
The French Open has been Rune’s most successful major, where he’s won 76% of his matches and has shown consistency over the years.
In fact, he has made it to at least the fourth round in every appearance so far, with back-to-back quarter-final finishes in 2022 and 2023.
He’ll also remember that his first deep run came as an unseeded player in 2022, something that might offer a bit of confidence heading into this year under similar circumstances.
The build-up to Paris gives him a decent stretch to prepare. The main draw kicks off on Sunday, May 24, giving him five weeks to fine-tune his game before stepping onto the clay once again.
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