Casper Ruud’s title defense at the ATP Barcelona Open came to a sudden halt as Holger Rune delivered a commanding performance in Friday’s quarterfinals. Rune, currently ranked 13th in the world, dispatched the Norwegian in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, ending Ruud’s hopes of back-to-back titles in Catalonia.
Ruud, seeded No. 2 and world No. 1 entering the tournament, struggled from the outset. He was broken early in both sets and never found his rhythm, committing unforced errors over the match. Rune capitalized on Ruud’s shaky start, racing to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and maintaining control throughout the hour and 28-minute contest.
This defeat is a significant setback for Ruud, who will drop out of the ATP top for the first time in recent years, falling to 15th in the rankings. The loss also means Ruud surrenders ranking points and faces mounting pressure to defend further points during the clay season.
For Rune, this victory marks his third consecutive win over a top player and propels him into the semifinals, where he will face Russia’s Karen Khachanov for a spot in the final.
