Holger Rune stuns Carlos Alcaraz as he emulates Novak Djokovic's Paris 2024 Olympic gold-medal win in ATP Barcelona final - 'I played it in my mind'

Holger Rune captured his fifth ATP title with a 7-6(6) 6-2 win over Carlos Alcaraz at the Barcelona Open, recovering from the bout of food poisoning that forced him out of the Monte Carlo Masters earlier in the month. Rune said Novak Djokovic's Olympic gold-medal match with Alcaraz last summer "played in my mind" as he found the solution to ending the top-seed's imperious streak on clay.

Holger Rune revealed he took inspiration from Novak Djokovic's Olympic gold-medal win against Carlos Alcaraz to beat the Spaniard in the Barcelona Open final on Sunday.

The Dane said he replayed the match - which took place on the clay courts of Roland-Garros in Paris last summer - in his mind, and emulated the Serbian's style to find his way to a 7-6(6) 6-2 victory and earn his fifth ATP title.

Rune adjusted on the clay in Barcelona after being forced to retire from his Monte-Carlo opener due to food poisoning. He ended Alcaraz's nine-match winning run on clay to take the title in Catalonia.

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"It means the world, it was such a great match," said Rune. "In the beginning, I was a little bit stressed, because Carlos obviously plays big-time tennis. I had to breathe a lot and find my rhythm.

"After he broke me, I got more into the match and played my tennis. The first set was a big battle, it was super important to win it and gain the momentum. I’m so proud of myself."

Rune was undeterred despite going a break down in the first set, winning eight points on the bounce to crush Alcaraz's momentum.

Denmark's Holger Rune celebrates winning against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Barcelona Open "Conde de Godo"

Image credit: Getty Images

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"When I got broken in the first set, I thought to myself that I don’t need to hit every shot on the line," Rune added.

"So I [asked] myself: ‘What did Novak do when he beat him?’ I played it in my mind, the Olympics final, and tried to play that style, making a lot of balls. I’m very happy with how I stayed composed when it mattered, and I was really brave."

Alcaraz, however, did not seem at full throttle and after a medical timeout following the third game of the second set, he was unable to launch any form of a fightback on Pista Rafa Nadal.

Rune surged far ahead of Alcaraz in the second set and took full advantage of his counterpart's continued unforced errors, which reached 33 by the match's end.

Watch as ecstatic Djokovic collapses to ground after beating Alcaraz for Olympic gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Congratulations Holger on an amazing week," Alcaraz said to Rune during the trophy ceremony.

"Coming from Monte-Carlo, [where] you had to retire. Coming here and showing a great effort to make the people enjoy watching tennis, I appreciate that.

"We’ve been seeing each other since 12 years old. Time flies. I’m really happy to see us in this position, how far we’ve [come]. Keep going."

Rune replied: "I want to also say congrats to you. Not just for this week but also for Monaco.

"I watched you win and you're truly doing something amazing for tennis and sport as well. I wish you all the best for the future."

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