BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, October 13, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
Holger Rune has been added to next week’s main draw field for the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open after receiving the tournament’s final wild card. The former World No. 4 joins a strong field at the ATP 250 indoor hard-court event, which takes place at the Brussels Expo from October 17-25.
The 23-year-old from Denmark joins defending champion and current World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, World No. 11 Arthur Fils of France and World No. 24 Casper Ruud of Norway, among Top-25 players in the main draw. Belgium’s three top-ranked players, No. 28 Alexander Blockx, No. 39 Zizou Bergs and No. 50 Raphael Collignon, will also compete.
“With Holger Rune, we are adding another big name to our line-up,” tournament director Dick Norman said in a statement. “We are extremely proud to award him our final wild card. At just 23, he has already achieved so much and is the kind of player who can produce some great tennis. His participation is a real boost for our tournament and fantastic news for Belgian tennis fans.”
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The 195th-ranked Rune, a five-time ATP Tour titlist, recently returned from a ruptured left Achille tendon injury suffered in October of 2025 that sidelined him from competition for nearly 11 months. This will be Rune’s second appearance in Belgium. He first played in the tournament in 2021, when it was located in Antwerp, and lost in the first round of qualifying.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in Belgium again,” Rune said in a statement. “The BNP Paribas Fortis European Open has a strong field this year, and I’m excited to compete against some great players. I’m grateful to the organizers for giving me this opportunity, and I’ll do my best to make the most of it. I’m looking forward to playing in Brussels and seeing how far I can go.”
With the addition of Rune, it completes the latest round of main draw invitations. David Goffin of Belgium, who is retiring from professional tennis following the European Open, and up-and-conning German Max Schönhaus have also received main-draw wild cards. Belgian Gilles-Arnaud Bailly has been awarded a wild card for qualifying.
