World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the Barcelona Open final on Saturday with an impressive 6-2, 6-4 victory over Arthur Fils—then celebrated in a way that left fans intrigued.
After sealing the win, Alcaraz raised both arms and struck a pose reminiscent of surfing, balancing with arms outstretched in front of a raucous home crowd. The 21-year-old later explained the meaning behind the quirky celebration.
“It Was for My Team”
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz clarified that the celebration wasn’t random:
“The celebration was for my team,” he said. “They always tell me little things during matches. This wasn’t a dance—it was something special for them.”
Alcaraz shared the moment on social media, captioning a photo with “FINAL!!!!” alongside three surfing emojis. The post quickly gained attention among his 847,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter).
Gunning for a Third Barcelona Title
Alcaraz, who already lifted the Barcelona trophy in 2022 and 2023, missed last year’s edition due to injury. Now back in top form, he’s looking to claim a third title on home soil as part of his build-up to defend his French Open crown in May.
“Since I was a little kid, I watched this final every Sunday,” Alcaraz said. “Being back in it means so much—especially in front of my people and friends from Murcia.”
Rune Awaits in the Final
Alcaraz’s final opponent will be Holger Rune, who cruised past Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 in his own semifinal. Rune’s win guarantees him a return to the ATP Top 10 for the first time since April 2024.
Despite his confidence, Alcaraz remains focused:
“Let’s see if tomorrow we can end the day with the trophy,” he said with a smile.
