Holger Rune won the 2025 Barcelona Open in straight sets, defeating world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(6), 6-2. The Danish star delivered a strategically brilliant effort against Rafa Nadal, halting Alcaraz’s nine-match winning streak and denying him a third Barcelona title.
Rune’s victory, his fifth career title and first since 2023, represents a tremendous comeback for the 21-year-old, who overcame defending champion Casper Ruud and Karen Khachanov on his way to the final. His strong performance in Barcelona moved him four slots up the ATP rankings, from 13th to 9th.
Following the match, Rune said that his plan was influenced by Novak Djokovic’s overwhelming victory over Alcaraz in the 2024 Olympic final. He added that when under pressure in the first set, he told himself to remain calm and focused on consistency, much like Djokovic did during that match.
Rune stated that he visualised the Olympic final to help guide his thinking. “I told myself, ‘Make him play. Do not force the shots.’ “That helped me stay composed,” he added.
Despite his initial nerves, Rune immediately adjusted, rediscovered his rhythm, and won a hard-fought first set. The momentum propelled him through a clinical second set, and now he aims to win his first Masters 1000 title.
