Clay Court Champions Crowned: Rune, Zverev, and Svitolina Claim Titles in Barcelona, Munich, and Rouen

The tennis world witnessed a trio of electrifying performances from three clay court champions on Sunday.

Holger Rune, Alexander Zverev, and Elina Svitolina claimed prestigious titles, capping a thrilling weekend of ATP and WTA action.

Rune stunned Carlos Alcaraz to win the Barcelona Open. Zverev celebrated his birthday with a BMW Open victory in Munich, and Svitolina secured her 18th career title at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Rouen.

Let’s introduce this week’s clay court champions.

Rune’s Breakthrough in Barcelona

At the ATP 500 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Denmark’s Holger Rune delivered a masterclass to defeat top seed Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(8-6), 6-2 in the final, claiming his fifth career title and first ATP 500 crown.

The 21-year-old, who battled back from food poisoning in Monte-Carlo, showcased resilience and tactical brilliance on the clay of Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.

“It’s a crazy feeling, it’s been such a long time since I won a title. To beat Carlos in the final, a good friend and an amazing player, means the world to me”.

Rune’s journey included a dramatic comeback against Sebastian Baez (4-6, 6-1, 6-2), a commanding win over defending champion Casper Ruud (6-4, 6-2), and a swift 6-3, 6-2 semifinal victory over Karen Khachanov.

In the final, Rune rallied from a break down in the first set, clinching a tense tiebreak before dominating the second set as Alcaraz required two medical timeouts for his upper right leg.

Rune’s win propelled him back into the ATP Top 10, while Alcaraz dropped to No. 3.

Zverev’s Birthday Bash in Munich

In Munich, World No. 2 Alexander Zverev celebrated his 28th birthday by capturing his third BMW Open title, defeating No. 2 seed Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4 in a 71-minute masterclass.

The German, who won the event in 2017 and 2018, was nearly flawless, winning 89% of first-serve points and committing just seven unforced errors.

“Winning at home on my birthday, in front of these fans, is something I’ll never forget,”

Zverev’s path to his 24th career title included a 6-4, 6-1 opener against Alexandre Muller, a quarterfinal win over Daniel Altmaier, and a semifinal victory over Tallon Griekspoor.

In the final, he broke Shelton’s serve three times, improving to 2-0 in their head-to-head.

Zverev will head to Madrid as one of the best clay court champions in the field. 

Svitolina’s Resurgence in Rouen

At the WTA 250 Oeiras Ladies Open in Rouen, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina clinched her 18th career title, defeating No. 3 seed Olga Danilovic 6-4, 7-6(8) in a tightly contested final.

The top seed, who hadn’t dropped a set all week, showcased her trademark grit to outlast Danilovic in a dramatic tiebreak.

“This title means so much, especially after the challenges I’ve faced. I’m thrilled to be back winning on clay and building momentum.”

Svitolina’s dominant run included straight-set wins over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the semifinals and earlier victories against lower-ranked opponents.

The Ukrainian improves to No. 18.