BARCELONA — Denmark’s Holger Rune delivered a stunning performance on Sunday to defeat home favorite Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(6), 6-2 in the final of the Barcelona Open, claiming his first ATP title in two years.
Alcaraz, the tournament’s top seed and defending champion, had been aiming for a third consecutive title in Barcelona. However, Rune played with confidence and composure, capitalizing on his opponent’s physical struggles midway through the match. The Spaniard appeared to be hampered by a thigh or groin issue during the second set, requiring a medical timeout.
“It means the world,” Rune said after lifting the trophy. “Carlos came out strong and I was a bit stressed early on. I had to focus on my breathing and find my rhythm.”
Rune’s title run wasn’t just about one upset. The 20-year-old had already knocked out second seed Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals, and his performance in the final confirmed he was in top form. With the win, Rune ends a two-year title drought—his last win came at the Bavarian Open in April 2023.
Meanwhile, the loss sees Alcaraz drop to third in the ATP rankings, overtaken by Alexander Zverev, who won the Munich Open earlier on Sunday.
A Turning Point in the First Set
Alcaraz got off to a quick start, breaking Rune for a 3-2 lead with his trademark aggressive baseline play and slick drop shots. But Rune responded quickly, breaking back and then going up 4-3 to the surprise of the Spanish crowd.
The set eventually went to a tense tiebreak. Alcaraz saved two set points, but Rune kept applying pressure, finally converting his fifth chance when Alcaraz sent a return long.
“When he broke me early, I actually started to settle in and play my game,” Rune said. “Winning that first set was key—it gave me the momentum.”
Rune Takes Over
Alcaraz briefly led 2-1 in the second set before calling for treatment on his leg. After the medical timeout, he struggled to keep up as Rune raised his level. The Dane dominated at the net, winning 12 of 16 points, and limited his own errors while Alcaraz’s began to mount.
With the crowd growing restless, Rune surged ahead to 5-2, then closed out the match with a love service game. On championship point, Alcaraz’s return clipped the net, sealing Rune’s biggest win in recent memory.
After the match, Rune revealed he took inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s game plan against Alcaraz during the Olympic final at Roland Garros.
“I thought, ‘Let’s try to play that style—make him hit a lot of balls,’” Rune explained. “I’m really proud of how I stayed calm and brave when it mattered most.”
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