New Delhi: Holger Rune delivered a statement performance to lift his first Barcelona Open title, stunning World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets. The Danish star seeded sixth, earned a 7-6(6), 6-2 win to secure his fifth ATP Tour title and his first since April 2023. The result also marked Rune’s maiden trophy of the 2025 season and a timely return to the winner’s circle after a difficult spell on tour.
After a slow start where Alcaraz broke early in the opening set, Rune quickly settled into the contest. He broke back immediately and began to dictate play with aggressive shot-making and smart variations. Despite a tight finish to the first set, Rune held his nerve in the tie-break, capitalising on Alcaraz’s growing unforced error count to seal it 8-6.
Back in the big time 🇩🇰@holgerrune2003 lifts the Trofeo Conde de Godó! 🏆#BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/aMoJRKFleR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 20, 2025
Alcaraz struggles physically in the second set
The Spaniard Alcaraz, who came into the final on a nine-match winning streak and was looking to clinch a third Barcelona title, took a medical timeout early in the second set for what appeared to be an issue with his upper right leg. From that point on, the 2022 US Open winner never looked the same. He struggled to move freely and shortened points in an attempt to stay competitive, but Rune was relentless and took full advantage.
The Dane didn’t drop a single service game in the second set and saved all four break points he faced. He kept Alcaraz pinned behind the baseline, drawing errors and maintaining a high first-serve percentage. Rune broke twice in the second set and wrapped up the win in just over an hour and forty minutes, levelling their head-to-head at 2-2.
Rune’s performance stood out not only for his physical execution but also for his mental toughness and tactical awareness. After getting broken early in the match, the 21-year-old said he reminded himself not to aim for perfection but instead focused on consistency and composure. He even admitted to drawing inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s Olympic win over Alcaraz, using that mental image to stay locked in.
‘I kind of played the Olympic final in my mind’ 🧠@holgerrune2003 channeled his inner @DjokerNole to beat Alcaraz in the Barcelona final!#BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/m61OA6B6cx
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 20, 2025
“I’m extremely happy, it’s been more than a year since I won a title,” Rune said post-match. “To beat Carlos, especially in Spain, means so much to me. I stayed composed and I think I played very smart today.”
Back into the Top 10
This victory propels Rune back into the Top 10 of the ATP rankings, moving up from No. 13 to No. 9. It’s a significant boost for the 21-year-old as he looks to regain momentum ahead of the French Open. Meanwhile, the loss denies Alcaraz a chance to retain his World No. 2 ranking, which now returns to Alexander Zverev following his title run in Munich.
Despite the defeat, Alcaraz will now focus on recovering physically and regrouping for the European clay swing. For Rune, however, the Barcelona triumph may well be the spark he needed to launch a big season ahead.
Holger Rune stuns Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to win his first Barcelona Open title, ending the Spaniard’s nine-match clay-court winning streak. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
