Holger Rune’s return to competitive tennis has been delayed once again after the Danish star withdrew from the upcoming ATP tournament in Cincinnati as he continues his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.

Rune has not played since suffering the injury during the Stockholm Open last October. Although he remained on the Cincinnati entry list until Wednesday, his name has now been removed, confirming that he is not yet ready to return to the ATP Tour.

The former world No. 4 has repeatedly pushed back his comeback timeline throughout the year. He initially targeted a return at the Hamburg Open before aiming for the French Open, but both tournaments came too soon in his rehabilitation.

Rune later hoped to make his comeback during the grass-court season, but that plan was also abandoned as he continued his recovery. His next target is the US Open, which begins later this month, although his participation remains uncertain.

Speaking to SpilXperten on August 3, Rune’s mother and manager said the main focus is currently on rebuilding the 22-year-old’s tennis fitness and ensuring he is fully prepared before returning to competition.

“It could take another two or three weeks, but it’s impossible to give an exact timeline at the moment. What we do know is that Holger is working as hard as possible every day to return as quickly as he can.”

Rune suffered the Achilles tendon injury during his semi-final defeat to French player Ugo Humbert at the Stockholm Open last October. Since then, the Dane has been following an intensive rehabilitation programme, including a training and recovery stint in Qatar.

The lengthy absence has seen Rune fall to No. 99 in the ATP rankings. However, he remains eligible for direct entry into major tournaments through the ATP’s protected ranking system, allowing him to compete without relying on his current ranking when he is fit to return.