Rune returns to top 10, sets Alcaraz final in Barcelona
Danish tennis player Holger Rune continues to impress at the Barcelona Open in Spain, racing past Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals of the ATP 500 event on Saturday to set a blockbuster final against top seed Carlos Alcaraz.
The win returns Rune to the world’s top 10 for the first time in over a year, with the 21-year-old up to No.9 in the live ATP rankings.
Rune came into his last-four clash against Khachanov as a narrow favourite on tennis betting apps, having dispatched defending champion Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals.
While that match was a display of brutal hitting, Saturday had a different element of Rune’s skillset on display, with the Dane relentless using his soft touch to finish points.
“I was playing very well from the back of the court, and mixing up the pace very well,” said Rune after the 6-3, 6-2 victory.
“He’s very good from the serve, using his forehand and backhand.
“So I tried to make it difficult for him by mixing it up with drop shots, slices, and high balls.
“It’s all a balance, but I’m happy with how I handled it today.”
Despite his success this week, Rune remains a heavy underdog with the top online bookmakers heading into the Barcelona Open final.
He pays a long $4.50 at BetOnline to upset world No.2 Alcaraz, who also eased through his semi-final, beating Frenchman Arthur Fils in straight sets.
The clash was a rematch of the pair’s meeting in Monte-Carlo just last week, where Fils pushed Alcaraz to a deciding set.
The 20-year-old was far less accurate this time, however, spraying 38 unforced errors to Alcaraz’s 13 and going down 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour.
“It wasn’t about playing fantastic tennis, brilliant shots – it was about making the shots you have to do, no more than that,” Alcaraz said after the match.
“Since I was a little kid, I was here on Sunday’s watching the final.
“I played twice here, so being in a final here in Barcelona again means a lot.
“In front of my people, my friends who came from Murcia, and of course the people here in Barcelona.
“It’s been a really fun and great week, and let’s see if we can end tomorrow with a trophy.”
Tennis bookmakers price Alcaraz at a low $1.20 to lift the trophy on Sunday, with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head against Rune 2-1.
