Holger Rune stopped Carlos Alcaraz’s nine-match winning streak in superb fashion on Sunday at the Barcelona Open where the Dane captured his first title in nearly two years.
The sixth-seeded Dane won the match 7-6(6), 6-2 in a dramatic final to earn his fifth ATP Tour title. Rune recovered from a break deficit in the opening set and converted his fourth set point.
He then upped his game even further in the second to deny Alcaraz, who took a medical time-out, a way back into the match.
Both players traded heavy blows from the baseline and mixed it up with creative dropshots, but it was Rune who kept his cool in a lively atmosphere on Pista Rafa Nadal.
The charismatic Dane saved all four of the break points he faced in the second set, while Alcaraz twice needed treatment on his upper right leg.
Rune was forced to withdraw in his first match in Monte-Carlo last week due to food poisoning, but launched a terrific comeback on the Barcelona clay with a string of impressive performances.
The 21-year-old raced past defending champion Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals and and was overall in control against Alcaraz to earn his third title on the surface.
Thanks to reaching the final in Barcelona, Rune ensured he will return to the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings on Monday.
Alcaraz could have preserved his No. 2 spot by claiming a third title of the season (also Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo), but Alexander Zverev will return to that position after triumphing in Munich.
After Alcaraz secured an early break, the Dane won eight consecutive points to swing the momentum back in his favour.
Alcaraz saved two set points when he was serving at 4-5, but was ultimately forced to surrender in the tie-break with his 10th forehand unforced error of the set.
Alcaraz then decided to take an off-court medical time-out after the third game of the second set, and was unable to lift his game upon his return.
With his one-hour, 41-minute victory, Rune won his second game against Alcaraz and the two are now tied 2-2 in their respective head-to-head statistics.