Holger Rune has stated that he is ‘furious’ after having to retire from his second-round match in Acapulco, due to supposed food poisoning. Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul withdrew from their scheduled last 16 matches, similarly from food poisoning.
Rune had won just four points during his second-round match in Acapulco against Brandon Nakashima, retiring after going down 3-0 in the first set.
“Furious and so sad at the same time,” the Dane stated on X, after his retirement.
“Had a food poisoning and was unable to play today. One of my favorite places is Mexico and I love this tournament @AbiertoTelcel. Absolutely not the way I wanted it to end.”
Furious and so sad at the same time. Had a food poisoning and was unable to play today. One of my favorite places is Mexico and I love this tournament @AbiertoTelcel . Absolutely not the way I wanted it to end
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) February 27, 2025
The former world No 4 has had a disappointing 2025 season, losing in the opening round in Brisbane and Buenos Aires, and falling in the second round of Rotterdam.
Rune did have a solid run at the Australian Open, beating Zhang Zhizhen, Matteo Berrettini, and Miomir Kecmanovic, before being defeated by Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.
In Buenos Aires, the Dane stated on social media that he had suffered from a strong fever – before withdrawing from the Rio Open just days later: “Looking back, I think it was too early to play after my influenza last week
“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.”
Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul did not even take to the court for their respective second-round matches, again, due to suspected food poisoning.
The Norwegian took to his Instagram to say: “I’m so sorry I had to pull out tonight. I was hoping to overcome this stomach illness that showed up yesterday and tried everything I could to be able to play tonight, until the very last moment.
“Hoping to come back stronger in a couple of days and come back here to Mexico next year. Thanks for now, Acapulco.”
Ruud was scheduled to play world No 356 Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez, who becomes the first Mexican tour-level quarter-finalist since 1998.
Meanwhile, Paul was pencilled to play fellow American Marcos Giron – before the world No 10 withdrew.
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The seeds further tumbled in Acapulco after Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton lost in straight sets during their second-round matches.
Zverev, the top seed, suffered yet another shock loss – this time against Learner Tien, 6-3, 6-4. The American had previously gained the biggest win of his career, by ranking, at the 2025 Australian Open after defeating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller.
The German would have hoped to close the gap with world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who is suspended from the tour for a three-month period, but has failed to win three consecutive matches in Buenos Aires, Rio, and, now Acapulco.
Shelton squeaked by Flavio Cobolli in two tie-break sets during his opening match, but fell to former world No 7 David Goffin, 7-6(3), 6-3.
The two losses mean that none of the top five seeds remain in the tournament.
