Holger Rune offers fans chance to play him in charity auction for children’s well-being

Holger Rune is giving away his racquet and offering fans a chance to take part in an exclusive tennis lesson, all in support of a cause close to his heart.

The 21-year-old is an ambassador for Danish children’s charity Børns Vilkår, which fights for child welfare and hosts the BørneTelefonen (Child Helpline) that takes calls around the clock. As the organization prepares to hold its annual national fundraiser, Rune was eager to contribute.

In collaboration with Bruun Rasmussen, Rune is auctioning off a tennis lesson for two as well as a Babolat racquet he competed with at the 2025 Australian Open and 2024 Rolex Paris Masters.

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“The well-being of children is a cause very close to my heart, and I’m proud to be an ambassador for Børns Vilkår in Denmark,” Rune shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Børns Vilkår has a phone line open 24/7 where kids can call anonymously and talk to a caring adult about their struggles. Often kids in unstable homes with violence and harassment do not tell others about their problems because it feels embarrassing. This is why the phone line is unique and a very important cause to support.

“I hope we can collect a lot of money for this cause. Today there are not enough resources to take all calls. This is my goal to make this possible. Let’s help together.”

The auction starts on March 5 and ends March 18, with the tennis session set to take place in Denmark during the offseason in either November or December.

In the meantime, world No. 13 Rune is currently in Indian Wells preparing for the BNP Paribas Open, seeking his first title of the year—and to hit the metaphorical reset button on a tough start to the season.

He posted a public apology to fans in Argentina after falling in the first round in Buenos Aires, saying he returned to action “way too early” having recently suffered from influenza. After withdrawing from Rio de Janeiro, Rune was dealt another health blow in Acapulco, where he and several of the top seeds were forced to withdraw from the tournament due to food poisoning.

Read More: Stomach issues hit Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul, Holger Rune on day where Acapulco's top five seeds all bow out

Rune is hoping his struggles are now firmly in the rear view mirror, as he awaits the winner of Corentin Moutet and Jordan Thompson in the second round after a bye.

“I feel like I need some good luck now!” Rune said in a pre-tournament interview. “It’s been rough for me in the last few tournaments, with illness in Rotterdam after my first round, and then Rio and Acapulco. It’s not been easy, but these are things that you can try to learn from…

“These are things I can’t control, and it’s just unlucky. I need to move on… I’m really happy to be here, hopefully being fully healthy when the tournament starts."