BARCELONA, Spain — Holger Rune emerged victorious against local favorite Carlos Alcaraz, clinching the Barcelona Open title in straight sets on Sunday. This triumph marked Rune’s first championship since 2023 and his fifth title overall, also making it his inaugural ATP 500 victory.
Rune outplayed Alcaraz with a score of 7-6 (6), 6-2, securing his position as the champion for the first time since his 2021 win in Munich. “It means the world, it was such a great match,” Rune expressed. He admitted feeling the pressure initially due to Alcaraz’s formidable play, saying, “I had to breathe a lot and find my rhythm.” Once his opponent broke his serve, Rune managed to recenter himself, allowing him to play his tennis more confidently. The tightly contested first set was crucial for Rune’s momentum, and he beamed with pride in his achievement.
Alcaraz entered the match on a high note, riding a nine-match winning streak that included a victory at the Monte Carlo Masters the prior weekend. His aspirations included securing a third title of the year and adding a 19th career title to his resume. Alcaraz had claimed the Barcelona Open in the past two consecutive years, making this year’s outcome especially significant.
The match saw Rune, who was previously the runner-up to Jack Draper at Indian Wells, come back from a break down in the opening set, converting his fourth set point to his advantage. In the second set, Rune maintained dominance, capitalizing on Alcaraz’s struggle with a right leg issue that required medical attention twice during the match. “I’m very happy with how I stayed composed when it mattered, and I was really brave,” said Rune after his win.
In a shift of rankings, Alcaraz is set to relinquish his No. 2 position to Alexander Zverev, who celebrated his victory in Munich. “Congratulations Holger on an amazing week,” Alcaraz stated, acknowledging Rune’s impressive performance and reminiscing about their shared history since childhood. “Time flies. I’m really happy to see us in this position, how far we’ve come. Keep going,” he added, reflecting on their long-standing journey.
This encounter was historically significant as it marked the first ATP tour-level final between two players aged 21 or younger since 2022, with both Rune and Alcaraz aged 21. Rune’s impressive display in Barcelona propelled him back into the top 10 rankings as he ascended to the ninth spot. As the sixth seed in the tournament, Rune’s journey was not without challenges, as he had to withdraw from his first match in Monte Carlo due to food poisoning.
The excitement in the tennis world continues with the Madrid Open set to commence on Monday, inviting another week of thrilling competitions.