BARCELONA, Spain — Holger Rune defeated Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday in the Barcelona Open final, bringing an end to Alcaraz’s clay-court winning streak.
The Dane secured the ATP 500 title with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory over the Spaniard. It marked Rune’s fifth ATP career title and his first trophy in nearly two years.
Rune expressed gratitude to his team and family after the match. He also offered praise for Alcaraz, acknowledging the Spaniard’s achievements in recent weeks and his positive impact on the sport.
Alcaraz entered the final having won nine consecutive matches on clay. His run included capturing the Monte Carlo Masters title the previous week, demonstrating strong form leading into the Barcelona event. He had been bidding for a second straight clay-court title.
The match saw Alcaraz gain an early break in the first set for a 3-2 lead. However, Rune broke back immediately, pushing the set to a tie-break which he narrowly won. Rune then dominated the second set, winning five consecutive games to clinch the title.
The victory was Rune's 20th win against a Top 10 ranked player. He defeated Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and needed a win over the world No. 2 Alcaraz to complete his collection of victories against every player ranked in the Top 10. He had achieved wins against all others by the end of 2023.
During the second set, Alcaraz appeared to struggle with a potential injury and took a medical timeout. Despite returning to the court, his performance level seemed affected, aiding Rune's decisive run to close out the match.
The outcome significantly altered the top of the ATP rankings. Alcaraz drops from No. 2 to No. 3. Alexander Zverev moves up to No. 2 after winning the Munich Open. Rune, a former world No. 4, is projected to return to the Top 10, climbing to No. 9.
Rune mentioned studying Novak Djokovic's strategy against Alcaraz, focusing on making the Spaniard play many balls. He emphasized staying composed and being brave during crucial moments of the match.
