Holger Rune Blames ‘Brain Shutdown’ for Shock Argentina Open Exit
Holger Rune’s South American swing got off to a nightmare start as the No. 2 seed crashed out of the Argentina Open without winning a match. The world No. 12 fell to Argentine wildcard Mariano Navone 6-1, 7-6(2) in the second round, and afterward, he admitted that he likely shouldn’t have played at all.
Illness Takes Its Toll on Rune
Rune had been struggling with illness at last week’s Rotterdam Open, where he visibly battled through matches before exiting in the round of 16. Despite feeling unwell, he opted to travel to Buenos Aires for the ATP 250 event—a decision he now regrets.
Following his defeat, the 21-year-old took to social media to explain that his recent bout of influenza had left him physically and mentally drained.
“Looking back, I think it was too early to play after my influenza last week,” Rune wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“My shoulder was not working, and the whole body seemed extremely vulnerable. I will take the time and get proper rest now. When the body is not there, the brain shuts down, and I am just very sorry I couldn’t deliver what I wanted on court today. Sorry, Argentina.”
Mixed Messages on His Defeat
Rune’s post came as a surprise, given that he had initially dismissed his illness as a factor in his performance. Speaking to reporters after the match, he attributed the loss to his own mistakes rather than any lingering effects from Rotterdam.
“It wasn’t a good match, I made too many mistakes,” he admitted. “My goal here was to play good tennis, and I couldn’t do that. It has nothing to do with having competed in Rotterdam a couple of weeks ago, where I got sick, but that’s how things are.”
Rune Withdraws From Rio, Criticizes Argentina Open Courts
With his health still in question, Rune has pulled out of next week’s ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro, opting for extra recovery time. However, his comments following the Argentina Open loss suggest he may not return to the tournament in the future.
“The event is well organized, but the courts are not that good,” he remarked. “Otherwise, everything is fine. Good atmosphere, fantastic weather, pretty good.”
While Rune looks to regroup, Navone advances with a massive career win under his belt, proving that South American clay can be an unforgiving battleground—even for the ATP’s biggest names.
