PREVIEW Barcelona Open 2025 Final as childhood friends Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune face off for first title

The stage is set and on Sunday afternoon at around 3pm local time, Carlos Alcaraz will face off against Holger Rune in the final of the 2025 Barcelona Open. Our preview takes you through the championship tie in what is known as the Conde de Godo Trophy.

Alcaraz and Rune were indeed childhood friends and grew up together in many ways. They played junior tournaments and are both 21. They often have pictures on social media of the pair together taking selfies or in one messing with each other's hair during a photo shoot.

But while they've faced off before, they never have in a men's singles final which makes it all the more intriguing as well as the setting as the new Spanish master faces the wounded Danish king who has confounded expectations this week to set his own trends.

Some expected Carlos Alcaraz to even not bother playing this week at the Barcelona Open but as has been said before, the pressure of now being the top player of a nation can be a blessing or a hindrance.

Since Rafael Nadal retired, the king of Spanish tennis mantle has been passed on and Alcaraz is now wanted by these warm-up events and he will play Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid in a row before then having to go to Rome and Roland Garros.

What state he will be in when he gets to Paris remains to be seen but he could go into the main warm-ups with back-to-back titles. A blessing or a curse time will tell.

He has seen off a slew of top names this week with Ethan Quinn being his main examination as he played less than 48 hours after winning Monte-Carlo. But he grew into it.

His win over Laslo Djere perhaps was one of this best of the year as he produced some of his best tennis and ironically with Juan Carlos Ferrero back in tow, he is more confident and free. Even more so than his stint with just Samuel Lopez in Monte-Carlo who no doubt has proved his worth already in a similar vein to Vagnozzi and Cahill for Sinner. One established element and one on the rise giving their star two opposing voices to seal one goal.

He then faced Alex de Minaur who has been so unlucky the past two weeks similar to his semi-final opponent. He has played so well then ran into the wall of facing the man of the hour and he claimed it 7-5, 6-3 to see off the biggest challenge seed wise of the tournament he will get,.

Then it was Arthur Fils who wanted to put up a better fight than last time but in truth barely laid a glove on Alcaraz as he provided a tennis lesson that the top professors couldn't give. He eased through 6-2, 6-4 and now stands with destiny in his hands.

As well as a dip in the pool which is always the brilliant end to the week in one of the best Barcelona warm-ups. Samuel Lopez will have to practice his butterfly if Alcaraz is to win.

Onto the second part of this final and we can wax lyrical about Carlos Alcaraz but the credit also has to be given to the Dane, Holger Rune.

Rune has bounced back after a torrid time on court. He is a player who was lauded as being part of that club with the Sinner and the Alcaraz type players of the world. But it hasn't happened.

Whether due to coaching changes, playing with injuries or a series of factors, the dice have not rolled for him until this week lately. This week he has been in beast mode with a point to prove.

In particular against Casper Ruud where he called out the ATP for pointing out the Head to Head which was 5-0 in favour of Ruud. He used that as inner fire to conquer the Norwegian who has not made a good start to his clay court adventure for a player of his calibre.

Prior he saw off another of the big guns on clay in Sebastian Baez who is a beast back in South America at these tournaments. Him and Francisco Cerundolo clean up like nobody's business but in Europe, he hasn't found that formula. Maybe the altitude or the climate who knows but it is not there yet.

Rune showed that as he lost the opening set then lost just three more games. He also saw off Albert Ramos-Vinolas to open. His semi-final was the spoiler Karen Khachanov who has a reputation of being the guy who finds a way to join the big guns in the latter stages and he did that again.

But Rune was just too good and perhaps we are in position for the best final that this tournament could produce with a fit and healthy Rune and a hungry Alcaraz as they both gun for glory in a match fans would've been hoping to see more times than they have thus far.

The pair have faced off three times opening their rivalry back at the Next Gen FInals. That feels like a long time ago despite their relative age. The Spaniard prevailed in a first to four set format in straight sets.

The next one saw Rune take it albeit it was a retirement as Alcaraz had to stop in Paris and Rune progressed to seal his greatest accomplishment later in the tournament at the Paris Masters. But most recently it was in fact the 2023 Wimbledon Quarter-Final. Whoever has won their meetings has gone on to win the tournament, that continues.

Also more on their friendship is that they teamed up in doubles all the way back at Les Petit As in Tarbes France in 2017. But Alcaraz has that steely look in his eye at the moment and he said himself there are no friends no matter what their relationship is prior to the final.

“He is someone who I grew up with, playing under-12 and under-14 tournaments together,” Alcaraz said.

“We crossed paths in every tournament we played since we were little, and it’s marvellous to see how we have both grown and made it together to where we are. Tomorrow there are no friends. We both have to go out there to win.”