Elina Svitolina and Alexander Zverev also enjoyed a trophy lift on the road to Roland-Garros 2025.
©Manaure Quintero / AFPA trip to Paris is just around the corner. However, until the world's leading lights head to Roland-Garros, players are seeking momentum, silverware and confidence building during the clay court swing.
Let's catch up with the latest storylines from the Tour...
A rejuvenated Holger Rune ended a two-year wait for an ATP title with a morale-boositng triumph in a sun-kissed Barcelona.
The 21-year-old Dane last captured a trophy at Munich 2023, but capped an impressive week by dispatching childhood friend Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(6), 6-2 to claim a maiden ATP 500 crown on Sunday.
"It means the world, it was such a great match,” said Rune, halting Alcaraz's nine-match winning streak.
“In the beginning, I was a little bit stressed, because Carlos obviously plays big-time tennis. I had to breathe a lot and find my rhythm. The first set was a big battle, it was super important to win it and gain the momentum. I’m so proud of myself.
“When I got broken in the first set, I thought to myself that I don’t need to hit every shot on the line. So I asked myself: ‘What did Novak do when he beat him?’ I played it in my mind, the Olympics final, and tried to play that style, making a lot of balls. I’m very happy with how I stayed composed when it mattered, and I was really brave.”
Rune relinquished the first set facing Sebastian Baez in the second round, then it all clicked. The former world No.4 reeled in Baez 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, toppled defending champion Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2, before sweeping aside Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-finals.
Rune's reward is a return to the Top 10, moving from No.13 up to No.9 on Monday. It's the kind of week which catapults Rune into the Roland-Garros contenders conversation.
Jelena Ostapenko just had an inkling she was set for a strong week in Stuttgart and the Latvian was certainly proven right.
The world No.24 took home her first clay title since Roland-Garros 2017 with a sensational week of head-turning performances.
On Monday, Ostapenko overpowered world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1 for a ninth WTA title and it seemed she knew this was on the cards.
"Honestly, I didn't tell to anyone, I was keeping it to myself, but I felt very confident since the first day," said Ostapenko.
"I had, like, strange - in a good way - strange feeling when I came here, I felt like something is going to happen this week. I pretty much felt that I can win this tournament. Because I think I'm improving day by day and I'm playing better and better. Yeah, I think I deserve it.
"Obviously I played her (Sabalenka) a few times (0-3), but I analysed those matches and I knew what I had to do different today. I think I was more confident and more true player today than before."
Earlier in the week Ostapenko navigated past No.7 seed Emma Navarro 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 and then extended her unbeaten head-to-head over world No.2 Iga Swiatek (6-0) with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 quarter-final scoreboard.
Into the last four and Ostapenko defeated Ekarerina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-4, prior to a first victory over Sabalenka at the fourth attempt. Having outgunned Swiatek and Sabalenka, Ostapenko became the first player to do so on clay courts in the same tournament.
A "more confident" and "more true" Ostapenko spells trouble for the draw at Roland-Garros 2025.
Rewind to May 2023 and less than two months into her comeback from maternity leave, Elina Svitolina won the Strasbourg title.
Since then the Ukrainian has posted plenty of standout results without scooping the top prize. That changed on Sunday when Svitolina was hailed champion in Rouen, France.
The world No.18 overcame No.3 seed Olga Danilovic 6-4, 7-6(8), fending off two set points in the decisive tie-break.
"I feel very good, it was a good tournament for me," said Svitolina, extending her WTA final record to 18-4.
"I feel confident about my game, I trust my game. The way it was from the beginning of the tournament, some players played really well, but I stayed calm and kept fighting.
"Not an easy final, but very happy I could win all my matches in two sets and play good matches. I’m happy with the start of the season."
Alexander Zverev toasted his 28th birthday in celebratory style with a third Munich title on Sunday.
The German dominated proceedings 6-2, 6-4 versus the ever-improving clay court game of Ben Shelton to land a 24th career title.
The hometown hero has endured a mixed bag of results in recent months, posting 6-6 since reaching his third Grand Slam final in Melbourne back in January. First contest losses at Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo, where he entered as top seed, prompted scrutiny, but Zverev bounced back in Munich to leap above Alcaraz back to world No.2.
“It’s extremely special, I always love winning tournaments in Germany,” said 2017-18 Munich winner Zverev, who lifted his first title of the season. “It’s probably the most special thing I can do. It’s definitely a great birthday present, let’s put it that way."
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
