TENNIS star Holger Rune broke down in tears after a serious injury forced him to withdraw from the Stockholm Open mid-match.
The Dane was facing off with Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the semi-final when he suddenly pulled up.
The severity of the injury was immediately evident, with Rune hobbling around his side of the court and gesturing to his medical team.
He was taken to a bench and sat with his foot resting on an equipment bag, where the Dane would let his emotions flow to the fore and burst into tears.
His team looked equally concerned as the 22-year-old starlet hopped off the court with the help of his medical team.
News coming out of Rune’s camp amid the distressing scenes did not seem positive.
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Portuguese journalist Jose Morgado reported: “Holger Rune crying, tells the physio that he heard his Achilles tendon pop.
“His team almost in tears as well. Horrendous scenes.”
Fans of the young star sent their well wishes over social media following the incident.
“Man if it is the achilles… poor guy.”
“Damn this is absolutely terrible. He was having such a good week. Get well soon Holger.”
“Hoping for the absolute best because Rune is such a dynamic and fun player to watch.”
Speculation had also begun within the fanbase of how long Rune, who is ranked 11th in the world, will be unable to play.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, an Achilles rupture can take between four to six months to heal on its own for most people, but with the level of fitness required for elite competition, it is hard to say how long Rune could be out if the injury proves to be to the tendon.
The blow was made all the more devastating in hindsight, with Rune choosing to play through an existing battle with a hamstring injury.
The blow comes barely more than a week after Rune had to be treated on the court while playing in extreme conditions in Shanghai.
He appealed to officials at the tournament to make changes to protect player welfare.
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