Carlos Alcaraz collapses in Barcelona and also loses second place ranking

Wearing the role of the most classic spoilsport, Holger Rune beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and won the fifth title of his career, the first since Munich in 2023. The 76(6) 62 inflicted on the Spaniard, the No. 1 seed, also represents the first defeat for the home favorite on Catalan soil after 14 consecutive matches won.

Most of all, Rune deserves credit for sticking to the score after the break he suffered in the fifth game. After the counter-break, in fact, he appeared much more centered than Alcaraz, who was worried – if not injured – after feeling a muscle problem in the psoas of his right leg.

So, Rune celebrates his return to the Top-10 in the best way possible, as he will be the new world No. 9 starting Monday. Alcaraz, a week away from overtaking Zverev after his victory in Monte-Carlo, will instead find himself back on the bottom step of the podium after the German won the title in the Munich ATP 500.