Rune's back forces Brussels exit; Goffin and Collignon get new opponents

Holger Rune's comeback has hit another snag. The Dane has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels with a back problem, and his exit has reshuffled the opening matches of the two Belgians whose week matters most to the home crowd: David Goffin, who is playing the final tournament of his career, and Raphaël Collignon.

"Really annoying and unfortunate timing"

Rune had accepted a wild card for the ATP 250 event and was drawn to face Collignon in the first round. On Sunday he announced on social media that he would not be able to take part. "My back has seized up, but fortunately, scans have confirmed that it's nothing serious. So, 2-3 days of rest. Just really annoying and unfortunate timing," the 23-year-old wrote.

The setback comes at a delicate stage of his return. Rune, a former world No. 4 who reached that career high in August 2023, spent 11 months on the sidelines after an Achilles injury suffered in Stockholm in October 2025. He came back in September, won a Davis Cup singles rubber for Denmark against Bulgaria, but lost his opening ATP Tour matches in Tokyo and Shanghai. He is currently ranked No. 195 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

His withdrawal had a knock-on effect in the doubles draw as well. Rune had been due to partner Zizou Bergs, and Bergs has now pulled out of the doubles to concentrate on singles.

Goffin meets Bertola, Collignon gets Basavareddy

The draw changes mean Goffin will open his farewell week against Swiss lucky loser Rémy Bertola rather than a qualifier, as had originally been the case. Bertola, 28 and ranked No. 227, lost in qualifying but was handed the vacant place in the main draw. According to Belgian daily La DH, it will be the first tour-level meeting between the two. Goffin, now 35, comes into Brussels ranked No. 467.

Collignon, ranked No. 50, instead faces American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy, the world No. 139. That is far from a straightforward assignment: Basavareddy beat the Belgian in Winston-Salem last year, and La DH reports that Collignon has not played since the US Open five weeks ago because of knee problems.

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A draw thinned by withdrawals

Rune is the latest in a series of absentees in Brussels. Defending champion Félix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud had already pulled out, leaving Arthur Fils as the top seed. The Frenchman arrives in Belgium eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, so his week carries real weight in the fight for the last places at the Nitto ATP Finals.

For the other Belgians, the path is unchanged. Bergs, ranked No. 39 and seeded sixth, opens against Britain's Toby Samuel, the world No. 100, whom he beat at Eastbourne earlier this season. Fourth seed Alexander Blockx has a first-round bye and will start his tournament in the second round.

As for Rune, his own estimate of two to three days' rest points to a short-term problem rather than another long lay-off. For now, though, his record since returning to the ATP Tour stays at 0-2, and Brussels will go ahead without one of its most high-profile wild cards.