Holger Rune has opened up about the real reason behind his early retirement at the Monte Carlo Masters, revealing that he was struck by a severe bout of food poisoning during the tournament.
Rune, a former world No. 4, was forced to retire while trailing Nuno Borges 6-2, 3-0 in his opening match, visibly struggling and far from his usual form. The withdrawal marked a frustrating setback for the 21-year-old, who had recently made it to the final of Indian Wells before falling to Jack Draper.
Taking to social media shortly after his exit, Rune wrote:
“I feel hunted with sickness. Unbearable not to be able to finish up in one of my absolute favourite tournaments.”
Ahead of his next tournament appearance, Rune shared more details about the ordeal:
“In Monte Carlo, I suffered from food poisoning. I love the tournament — it was just really bad luck. It was super complicated for me, as were the days after.”
Rune has only just resumed training and admitted the comeback hasn’t been easy:
“I returned to training a couple of days ago. It wasn’t easy, but I’m happy to be back on the court, feeling good in my body. That’s a good sign.”
This wasn’t Rune’s first run-in with food-related illness in 2025. He also retired in Acapulco while 3-0 down against Brandon Nakashima, citing food poisoning there as well.
“Furious and so sad at the same time,” he said after that incident. “Had food poisoning and was unable to play today.”
To prevent future issues, Rune explained that he’s since undergone dietary testing:
“I did some tests to see what foods I should eat and what I should avoid. Maybe it’s just bad luck, but it’s very annoying, especially in a tournament like Monaco.”
Despite these setbacks, Rune remains optimistic:
“I’m still playing good tennis. My preparation before Monte Carlo was solid. I trust myself. If I’m fresh, I can get back to my best.”
The Dane will now shift focus to the Barcelona Open, where he’s set to face former Masters 1000 finalist Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the first round. The tournament will also feature top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Andrey Rublev.
