‘Brave’ Rune stuns Alcaraz to win Barcelona Open

Wednesday, 23 April 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Holger Rune

Holger Rune produced a sensational performance to stun home hero Carlos Alcaraz and claim the Barcelona Open title.

Denmark’s Rune matched the Spaniard shot-for-shot and held firm in the tight moments to beat his childhood friend 7-6 (8-6) 6-2.

It is Rune’s first ATP Tour title for two years and his biggest since the Paris Masters in 2022.

Rune, forced to retire in Monte Carlo last week with illness, said afterwards he had been inspired by Novak Djokovic’s victory over Alcaraz in the Olympic final at Roland Garros.

“I told myself OK, what did Novak do when he beat him?” Rune, 21, said.

“I kind of played it in my mind, the Olympic final, and I thought to myself let’s try to play that kind of style, really make him play a lot of balls.

“I’m really happy about how I stayed composed when it really mattered. I was also very brave when it mattered.” Alcaraz, who had been bidding for a third Barcelona title in four years, missed all four of the break opportunities he created in the second set and also required a medical timeout.

While Rune returned to the top 10 on Monday, Alcaraz was replaced as world number two by Alexander Zverev.

Germany’s Zverev beat Ben Shelton 6-2 6-4 in the Munich Open final to claim his first title of the year on his 28th birthday.