In a stunning upset at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell final, Denmark’s Holger Rune denied red-hot favorite Carlos Alcaraz a third straight title, defeating the Spaniard 7-6(6), 6-2 on Sunday at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.
Rune, who last lifted a trophy at the Bavarian Open in April 2023, started under pressure but saved two set points before converting his fifth chance in a tense first-set tiebreak. He showcased strategic net play, winning 12 of 16 points at the net to keep Alcaraz on the defensive.
Midway through the second set, Alcaraz appeared hampered by a thigh or groin issue and took a medical timeout at 2-1. Upon return, he struggled with rising unforced errors, allowing Rune to break twice and pull away for a 6-2 set.
“It means the world,” Rune said after lifting his first title in two years. “I had to breathe, find my rhythm and stay brave when it mattered.” He added that he studied Novak Djokovic’s Olympic final tactics at Roland Garros, focusing on making Alcaraz play extra balls.
Beyond the trophy, Rune’s victory shakes up the ATP rankings: Alcaraz drops to third, while Alexander Zverev—fresh off a Munich Open win—moves ahead. For young athletes and global tennis fans, Rune’s breakthrough underlines how resilience, strategy and smart adaptation can tip the scales in elite sport.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
