Carlos Alcaraz Eyes Third Barcelona Open Title Against Holger Rune

BARCELONA, Spain — Top-seed Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Barcelona Open final for the third time in four years, defeating Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals on Saturday. The reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion will face Denmark’s Holger Rune for the title.

Alcaraz’s victory over Fils marks his third consecutive appearance in the tournament final, having won the title in both 2022 and 2023. He missed the event the previous year due to injury. ‘Since I was a little kid, I watched the final every Sunday,’ Alcaraz said. ‘Being in the final again means a lot, in front of my people and my friends who came from Murcia. Let’s see if tomorrow we will end the day with the trophy.’

The match lasted one hour and 16 minutes, during which Alcaraz showcased his dominance, saving the only break point he faced and committing just 13 unforced errors compared to Fils’ 38. Alcaraz started strong, winning five consecutive games to establish an early lead before closing out the first set effortlessly.

Rune secured his spot in the final with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over Russia’s Karen Khachanov, marking his return to the top 10 for the first time since April 2024. Rune, who expressed excitement about his performance, demonstrated tactical precision throughout the match. ‘I was playing very well from the back of the court, and mixing up the pace very well,’ said Rune. ‘It’s all about a balance, but I’m happy with how I handled it today.’

In their previous encounters, Alcaraz holds a 2-1 lead against Rune, with their last meeting occurring at Wimbledon in 2023. However, this forthcoming match represents their first clash on clay, a surface where both players excel. ‘I told myself: ‘Let’s use it as a training week to build,’ but now it’s not really a training week; it’s become a very good week,’ Rune added, acknowledging his strong performances leading up to the final.

Meanwhile, world number three Alexander Zverev also advanced to the Munich Open final, defeating Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 7-6(7-3), 6-3. Zverev, who will face American Ben Shelton, is pursuing his 24th career title and his third on home soil. ‘It’s awesome, the entire week has been amazing,’ Zverev remarked about his performance throughout the tournament.