Holger Rune has confirmed that food poisoning forced him to retire from his first-round match at the Monte-Carlo Masters this week. The world No. 12 described the situation as feeling “hunted by sickness,” marking the second time in less than two months that illness has disrupted his season.
Rune, who entered Monte-Carlo as the No. 10 seed, looked visibly unwell during his match against Nuno Borges and was forced to withdraw while trailing 6-2, 3-0. This follows a similar incident in Acapulco in February, where he retired just three games into a round-of-16 match due to food poisoning.
Taking to Instagram after his latest setback, the 21-year-old expressed his frustration, writing, “I feel hunted with sickness. Unbearable not to be able to finish up in one of my absolute favourite tournaments.”
Rune revealed that he is now undergoing medical tests to understand why these incidents keep occurring. “In Monte-Carlo, I suffered from food poisoning. I love the tournament—it was just really bad luck,” he said. “I returned to training a couple of days ago and it wasn’t easy, but I’m happy to be back on the court, feeling good in my body. That’s a good sign.”
Rune has been plagued by illness throughout the year. He suffered from the flu in February during a heavy defeat in Rotterdam and later admitted he rushed back too soon, pulling out of the Rio Open soon after.
At the ATP 500 event in Mexico, Rune was one of several players who fell ill, further complicating his season. Now, he’s determined to take a proactive approach. “It’s quite annoying, but I think you can learn from those situations,” he shared. “I did some tests afterwards 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, where I’ve been good and enjoy playing.”
Despite the setbacks, Rune remains optimistic about his form. “I’m still playing good tennis,” he said. “Before I got sick, my preparation for Monte-Carlo was solid. I was playing well. I just focus on working day by day. I trust myself. If I’m fresh, I can get back to my best.”
Rune will return to competition at the upcoming Barcelona Open, where he is seeded sixth. He’s scheduled to face veteran Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who recently announced his retirement plans.
