Holger Rune dethrones Casper Ruud in straight sets

Holger Rune is through to the semi-final at the ATP 500 Barcelona Open. The young Dane faced the defending champion Casper Ruud in the quarter-final and provided a 6-4, 6-2 victory in an hour and 27 minutes for his second victory over the Norwegian.

The struggling Ruud played another match below his former level. He played poorly in the opening stages of each set and trailed the result. Holger did well to control the scoreboard and arrange the semi-final clash with Karen Khachanov. 

Homicide volontaire ou involontaire de Rune sur Ruud 😅

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— TennisTemple (@tennistemple) April 18, 2025

Rune clinched 13 points more than his rival. Both players struggled to find the first serve, and the Dane made the difference after landing it in. The 21-year-old denied three of four break points and kept the pressure on the other side. 

Casper could not follow that pace. The defending champion dropped almost half of the points in his games and suffered four breaks from seven chances offered to his rival to end his campaign in the quarter-final. Holger landed 16 winners and 20 unforced errors.

Ruud stood on a 14-29 ratio, spraying too many mistakes, especially from his forehand. The Norwegian claimed 12 points more in service winners and at the net. Rune forged a massive 42-24 advantage from the baseline and outplayed his rival in that area.

Casper hit a double fault on the third break point in the first game of the duel to fall behind. He generated two break points in the next one after a backhand winner at the net. The Dane stepped in and denied them with winners before holding after the rival’s forehand error. 

The defending champion squandered three game points in the third game. The young attacked on a break point and cracked a backhand down the line winner for another break and a 3-0 advantage. Rune fired a forehand winner in the…