Smy Tennis News|Rune Stuns Alcaraz to Capture Barcelona Crown

Holger Rune ended Carlos Alcaraz's nine-match winning streak with a straight-sets win in the 2025 Barcelona Open final. The 21-year-old Dane captured his fifth ATP title and returned to the Top 10 in the rankings.

Rune Stuns Alcaraz to Capture Barcelona Crown
Danish star earns first ATP title since 2023 with straight-sets victory

Holger Rune halted Carlos Alcaraz’s nine-match winning streak in emphatic fashion on Sunday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, securing his first title of the 2025 season with a 7-6(6), 6-2 win.

The sixth-seeded Dane battled back from a break down in the opening set and seized the momentum after converting his fourth set point in a tense tie-break. Rune dominated the second set to earn his fifth career ATP Tour title and his third on clay.

“It means the world, it was such a great match,” Rune said after the final. “In the beginning, I was a little bit stressed, because Carlos obviously plays big-time tennis. I had to breathe a lot and find my rhythm. After he broke me, I got more into the match and played my tennis. The first set was a big battle, it was super important to win it and gain the momentum. I’m so proud of myself.”

The high-energy contest featured heavy baseline exchanges and smart shot variation from both players, but Rune stood tall in key moments, especially during the second set. According to Infosys ATP Stats, he saved all four break points he faced in the final set, while Alcaraz required treatment on his upper right leg twice during the match.

Just a week after retiring from his Monte-Carlo opener due to food poisoning, Rune adjusted quickly to the Barcelona clay. He eliminated defending champion Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals and capped the week with a commanding win over 18-time tour-level champion Alcaraz.

By reaching the final, Rune climbs back into the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings, moving from No. 13 to No. 9. Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s hopes of retaining his No. 2 ranking were dashed, as Alexander Zverev will leapfrog him following his victory in Munich.

In the first ATP final between two players aged 21 or under since 2022, Rune flipped the momentum in the first set by winning eight straight points after an early break. Alcaraz saved two set points at 4-5, including one with a brilliant drop shot, but ultimately dropped the tie-break after committing his 10th forehand unforced error of the set.

“When I got broken in the first set, I thought to myself that I don’t need to hit every shot on the line,” Rune said. “So I asked myself: ‘What did Novak do when he beat him?’ I played it in my mind, the Olympics final, and tried to play that style, making a lot of balls. I’m very happy with how I stayed composed when it mattered, and I was really brave.”

Alcaraz took a medical timeout after the third game of the second set and struggled physically upon returning. He failed to win another game as his unforced error count climbed to 33. Rune sealed the win in one hour and 41 minutes, leveling their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry at 2-2.

“Congratulations Holger on an amazing week,” Alcaraz said during the trophy ceremony. “Coming from Monte-Carlo, where you had to retire, and then showing great effort here to make people enjoy watching tennis — I appreciate that. We’ve been seeing each other since we were 12 years old. Time flies. I’m really happy to see us in this position, how far we’ve come. Keep going.”