Holger Rune defeats Casper Ruud, advances to Barcelona Open semifinals

Holger Rune ended defending champion Casper Ruud's run at the Barcelona Open by winning their quarter-final matchup in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. This victory marks only Rune's second win in eight encounters with Ruud and propels him into the semi-finals against Karen Khachanov. Rune controlled the match with consistent baseline play, breaking Ruud's serve four times and winning a high percentage of first serve points. Ruud struggled with unforced errors and will drop to No. 15 in the world rankings as a result of this loss. Rune expressed respect for Ruud post-match but viewed the encounter as just another step in his tournament journey. The outcome signifies a notable upset, given Ruud's status as the defending champion and higher-ranked player.