Holger Rune captured his maiden Barcelona Open title on Sunday, defeating World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 in a commanding performance.
The win marks Rune’s first tournament victory since April 2023 and makes him only the second player to beat Alcaraz in his last 23 matches on clay. Alcaraz, who was aiming for his third title in Barcelona and preparing for his French Open title defense, struggled physically during the second set.
“It’s a crazy feeling—it’s been over a year since my last title. I’m so happy,” Rune said after the match. “To beat Carlos in the final, who’s a good friend and such a great player, means the world. I stayed composed and played really smart.”
Alcaraz started strong with an early break in the first set, but Rune quickly responded to level the score. The set went to a tie-break, where Rune finally closed it out after missing a couple of earlier opportunities.
In the second set, Alcaraz called a medical timeout after holding serve at 2-1 but looked visibly hampered upon returning. Rune took full advantage, breaking twice and sealing the win when Alcaraz sent a final shot into the net.
The 21-year-old Dane, currently ranked No. 13, showed remarkable poise and tactical sharpness throughout, signaling a strong return to form as the clay season heats up.
