World number two Carlos Alcaraz beat seventh seed Arthur Fils 6-2 6-4 on Saturday to advance into his third Barcelona Open final, where the Spaniard will face Denmark’s Holger Rune for the title.
Twice champion Alcaraz, who claimed the trophy in 2022 and 2023, reached his third tour-level final of the season after Rotterdam and Monte Carlo.
In a rematch of their Monte Carlo quarter-final last week, where Alcaraz prevailed over Frenchman Fils in three sets, the Spaniard saved the only break point he faced to extend his winning streak to nine matches.
“Being in the final in Barcelona again means a lot… in front of my people, in front of my friends who came from Murcia (and) of course the people here in Barcelona and Spain,” the 21-year-old Alcaraz said.
“It’s been a really fun and great week. Let’s see if tomorrow we will end the day with the trophy. It’s going to be tough.”
Danish sixth seed Rune dispatched Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2 in the other semi-final earlier on Saturday to advance to his second final at ATP 500 level.
Holger Rune crushed Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the Barcelona Open final, where he will face Carlos Alcaraz or Arthur Fils.
World number 13 Rune, who dispatched defending champion Casper Ruud in style on Friday, outclassed his opponent in the first set without conceding a break point.
The 21-year-old Dane broke to love in the seventh game and then broke again in the ninth to claim the first set in little over half-an-hour.
Khachanov, ranked 27th, suffered another break in the second game of the second set, with Rune consolidating for a 3-0 lead.
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The Russian, 28, saved two break points in the sixth game but Rune broke again in the ninth, wrapping up his victory with a passing shot to reach the final for the first time.
“It was definitely a very good match from my side, I played very smart I think and put him under lots of pressure,” said Rune.
The Dane offered huge variety in his shots and hit 20 winners to 13 unforced errors.
“I knew I had to play well again, I was keeping my pace on my shots well, mixing it up well and doing most things right today, so I’m very happy,” continued Rune.
“No matter who it’s going to be (in Sunday’s final) it’s going to be tough… I’m sure it’s going to be tough.”
Later Saturday world number two Alcaraz, hunting a third Barcelona Open title, faces seventh seed Fils, whom he defeated in three sets on the way to winning the Monte Carlo Masters last week.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com