Rune to face Alcaraz in Barcelona Open final

Holger Rune crushed Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the Barcelona Open final, where he will face Carlos Alcaraz.

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.

The Russian, 28, saved two break points in the sixth game but Rune broke again in the ninth, wrapping up his victory with a passing shot to reach the final for the first time.

"It was definitely a very good match from my side, I played very smart I think and put him under lots of pressure," said Rune.

The Dane offered huge variety in his shots and hit 20 winners to 13 unforced errors.

"I knew I had to play well again, I was keeping my pace on my shots well, mixing it up well and doing most things right today, so I'm very happy," continued Rune.

"No matter who it's going to be (in Sunday's final) it's going to be tough... I'm sure it's going to be tough."

Later Saturday world number two Alcaraz, hunting a third Barcelona Open title, faces seventh seed Fils, whom he defeated in three sets on the way to winning the Monte Carlo Masters last week.

Alcaraz brought down Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4 in an outstanding performance in which he never gave up his serve at any point.

The final between Alcaraz and Rune will take place on Sunday as the world number three will play the Dane who won his last significant title at Munich last year.

Ball kid with Down's

syndrome makes history at Barcelona Open

The Barcelona Open delivered the perfect serve for inclusion in elite tennis on Friday by providing youngster Alessandra Bonhomi the platform to become the first ball kid with Down's syndrome to work unassisted in an ATP Tour match.

Bonhomi performed her duties impeccably during the men's doubles quarter-finals at Andres Gimeno Court, drawing cheers from spectators and plenty of encouragement on social media after the tournament highlighted her achievement.

"For us there's a lot of work behind it. It's an idea that was a dream when we proposed it, and bringing it to reality is very exciting for everyone," said Marc Visiedo, the chief of the Barcelona Open Ball Kids, on the tournament's website.

Down's syndrome can cause developmental delays, intellectual disability and increase the risk for some medical issues in individuals who have the condition.

"It's showing the world that anyone, even those with a disability, can achieve anything they want in life, based on self-improvement and effort," Visiedo said.