Rennae Stubbs has identified one player that reminds her of Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard contested his second successive ATP Tour final when he competed for the Barcelona Open title on Sunday.
Alcaraz was stopped in his tracks by Holger Rune as the Dane claimed a 7-6, 6-2 victory to lift the title in Spain.
Their head-to-head rivalry is now locked at two wins apiece as Alcaraz was prevented from winning his home tournament for the third time.
Which ATP player reminds Rennae Stubbs of Carlos Alcaraz?
Following a disappointing North American hard court swing, Alcaraz has discovered his mojo on the clay.
Alcaraz won the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time on April 13, before losing to Rune in the Barcelona Open final.
After watching this match, Rennae Stubbs took to her podcast to explain why Rune reminds her of the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion.
“Rune reminds me so much of Alcaraz. When they played earlier on I was like these guys are going to go at it for years because they are very similar with the way they play. Very,” the Australian said.
“They are both unbelievably athletic, they are so quick. They don’t have massive serves, but they have great serves. They like to come in and hit that slidy, touch volley.
“There was a volley [in the final] where Rune played at 4-4 or 5-5 in the third set and he served and volleyed. He hit an unbelievable little touch forehand volley, which you know has to be perfect against Alcaraz, but when he hit that I was like that was so gutsy of him to do that.
“He was the more disciplined player and this was the difference. Rune I wouldn’t say wasn’t disciplined before, maybe because he was young, but also I think technically he struggled a little on the forehand. But I think he is really starting to come into his own.
“He has had the same guy coaching him now for years. I think he had too many voices in his head. He had this coach and that coach. He has matured so much. His display particularly in the first set.”
Rennae Stubbs comments on Carlos Alcaraz’s Barcelona Open final injury
Alcaraz appeared to sustain an injury in the Barcelona Open final after receiving treatment on his upper right leg on two separate occasions.
He had an MRI scan on Monday and while the results have not yet been disclosed, the World number two does not think it will impact his performances at the upcoming Madrid Open.
Despite the pain, Alcaraz battled hard at the Barcelona Open, but Stubbs praised Rune’s discipline to be able to seal victory against one of the world’s best in front of his home fans.
“Second set there is no doubt in my mind Alcaraz was hampered [with injury]. And Alcaraz is not going to be like my leg hurts because I lost the first set, he is the type of guy who would love the challenge of winning in Barcelona in three sets. So he was definitely hampered,” Stubbs added.
“The first set he wasn’t and that was the difference that Holger Rune was way more disciplined, particularly in the tiebreak.
“Alcaraz tried to hit that backhand drop shot at 3-2 up on the mini break and it was a terrible shot and his forehand goes off. Just basics.”
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