Carlos Alcaraz addressed a range of topics after losing to Holger Rune in the final of the 2025 Barcelona Open, including a message he received from Rafael Nadal.
The four-time Grand Slam winner fell to a 6-7(6), 2-6 defeat to his 21-year-old Danish rival at the ATP 500 clay-court event.
Alcaraz entered the final on a nine-match winning streak after his victory at the Monte Carlo Masters the previous week.
The 21-year-old Spaniard was also unbeaten in 14 matches at the Barcelona Open, having won the tournament in 2022 and 2023 before missing it last year through injury.
The world No 3 was up a break in the opening set, but an inspired Rune battled back impressively to edge it on a tiebreak.
Alcaraz’s hopes of a comeback were derailed early in the second set when he sustained a psoas injury that required him to leave the court for treatment.
Here is every word Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference.
Feelings after the final
“Losing is never easy, especially in a final and at the Godo. Despite how the match went, I have to give credit and congratulations to Holger. He played an exceptional, very organised match, knowing what he had to do at all times. I’ve forgiven certain situations that ultimately hurt me, but overall, it was a Godo final: I’m proud of having given everything, even if it’s a slightly bitter situation.”
The injury he suffered in the second set
“The second set started off very tough, with long, intense rallies. There were a couple of rallies that made me feel a little sore in my abductor muscle, my right psoas: when you feel a little discomfort, the alarm bells go off a bit and it’s hard to stay focused on the game. You worry about how your physique, your health, is going to be, and it was hard for me to continue and maintain that level. From what I’m noticing and feeling now, I think it’s going to be two days of rest, and even if I hadn’t hurt myself, I would have had them anyway. We’re going to talk to my medical team, we’re going to run tests, but I believe and trust that it won’t harm me for Madrid.”
Impact of playing 10 matches in 12 days in Monte Carlo and Barcelona
“As I said, having played so many demanding matches with so few days of rest is what it takes. I didn’t think I was going to have any physical discomfort; you don’t think about that when you go into a match, but I knew it would be a tough, demanding match, and I had faith in being able to hold on and play good tennis, which I still think I did. This is super demanding; you have to give 100% every day, and after playing in Monte Carlo and arriving in Barcelona with just a few days to spare, that’s always complicated. I’m here to throw myself at Rafa’s feet for what he’s done week after week. You have to appreciate that, but it’s something you keep in your head because of how difficult it is week after week.”
Was Alcaraz surprised by Rune?
“I know Rune, I’ve seen him win big titles and see great players. I’m not surprised by the level he can play at. What has surprised me, though, is that he pulls it off from time to time, but it’s not that often, is the order he’s had in the match. He’s barely had any ups and downs; he’s been very serious, very solid, from start to finish, I’ve had everything very clear. He deserves to be congratulated for that, and in that respect, he has surprised me a little, but as far as the level goes, no, I know what he’s capable of.”
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What was missing from Alcaraz’s performance and what Rune changed
“A little bit of patience. I started the match very well, with great shots, he played faster and straighter, which I think benefited me. Since my break, I think he changed tactically, and in the end he got more balls in, he ran more, he played longer and more intense rallies, and that’s what I lacked: a little bit of patience and changing my game plan a little to wait for my moment. I rushed things at certain moments, and he took advantage of that very well.”
What Nadal said to Alcaraz after the final
“He hasn’t given me any advice, but it’s true that he wrote to me encouragingly, saying that he hopes it’s nothing and that in a few days I can get back to training so that I’m at my best in Madrid. People, including myself, even though I play tennis and know what it’s like to be on tour, admire Rafa for what he’s done on this clay-court tour: when you experience it from the inside, you appreciate how difficult it is. Physically, mentally, week after week, winning everything in a row… it’s impossible. You appreciate it so much more when you experience it firsthand.”
Is it “crazy” to play a schedule of Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros?
“It’s intense. It really is. The clay-court tour is short, but very intense. Week after week without a break if you play everything… and that’s the difficulty, for a tennis player and their team, of being consistent, of speaking and communicating how you feel, how your body is, what you need. For me, it’s been two intense weeks after reaching two finals, playing a lot of matches. As the tour progresses, you see, but the difficult thing is that you go day by day, you don’t know how your body will be in two weeks, that’s the tricky part: we have to listen to our body day by day, because the season is very long and if you make a bad decision it can harm you in the future. To your question, yes, it’s practically crazy to endure the entire clay-court tour in good physical condition and, above all, in good mental condition, if you’re winning matches.”
Is being the favourite to win tournaments difficult to manage?
“Sometimes it gets complicated, because you feel the need to win, whether because of people’s demands or because of those labels. I’ve already said that I don’t give importance to what people might say, or to people’s expectations. I want to continue on the path I’ve set for myself, and that’s not about winning or losing, but about leaving the court happy, having enjoyed it, even despite the physical problems, which no one wants to have. Having played in Barcelona, in front of my fans, friends, and family, is something I have to value, enjoy, and leave the court proud of what I’ve done and with my head held high. That’s what I’m left with. I’ve reached a point where being a favourite or not is something that doesn’t concern me.”
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