Rune destroys Khachanov to reach Barcelona Open final

By AFP

April 20, 2025

Denmarks Holger Rune in action during his semi final match against Russias Karen Khachanov, April 19, 2025. —Reuters — Denmark's Holger Rune in action during his semi final match against Russia's Karen Khachanov, April 19, 2025. —Reuters

BARCELONA: 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.