Rune Uses Djokovic's Example To Tame Alcaraz

Holger Rune said he took a leaf out of Novak Djokovic's book to beat top seed Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 on April 20 to win the Barcelona Open for the first time.

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BARCELONA - Holger Rune said he took a leaf out of Novak Djokovic's book to beat top seed Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 on April 20 to win the Barcelona Open for the first time.

Rune was nearly flawless as he became only the second player to beat Alcaraz in his last 23 matches on clay, although the Spaniard had some physical difficulties in the second set.

The home favourite's previous defeat on clay was by Djokovic in the 2024 Paris Olympics final.

Said the 21-year-old Dane: "At the beginning, when I was broken, I was thinking, 'Wow, how can I beat him?' I told myself, 'OK, what did Novak do when he beat him?' I kind of played it back in my mind, that Olympic final?

"I was watching all of it when they played, amazing match, and I thought, 'OK, let's try to play that kind of style, really make him play a lot of balls'.