On Tuesday in Barcelona, world number two Carlos Alcaraz defeated American qualifier Ethan Quinn in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(6). The match took place just two days after Alcaraz played the Monte-Carlo Masters final.
In the first set, Alcaraz started strong. He broke Quinn’s serve in the third and fifth games, which gave him a 5-1 lead. Although he missed a set point in the seventh game, he secured the set on his third chance with a clean service game.
However, the second set was more challenging. Quinn, ranked 126th in the world, stepped up his level. Both players exchanged breaks three times. The set went into a tie-break after a series of close games. Quinn earned a set point, but Alcaraz saved it and finished the match with a well-placed drop shot.
- Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ethan Quinn 6-2, 7-6(6) to enter the last 16, despite a tight second set.
- Casper Ruud won 6-4, 6-3 against Daniel Elahi Galan without facing a single break point.
- Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Fils advanced with solid straight-set wins.
Alcaraz Speaks on His Form and Court Conditions
After the match, Alcaraz explained that the fast shift from Monte-Carlo to Barcelona made it hard to find a rhythm. He admitted he wasn’t playing at his highest level.
“Last year it was very painful not to be here, so I am very happy to be able to come back and play here again, and more so to win. I made some mistakes, I found it hard to maintain (the right) level, but I am happy to have solved the problems that came in the second set, and to end up winning in two sets.”
Later, in his press conference, Alcaraz gave more detail about the match and the transition from Monte-Carlo:
“I think it was a somewhat complicated match. The first sets at the start of every tournament are tough, and adapting to different conditions in such a short time is a bit difficult. Playing in Barcelona is unique and special for me. Despite some tough moments, where I wasn’t feeling at my best, I still had a good time. It’s a match I won, even though I didn’t play exceptional tennis, but I hope to improve for the next round.”
He explained the specific differences between Monte Carlo and Barcelona:
“Almost every tournament is different. Even if the balls are the same, the court conditions change drastically. Here, for example, the ball becomes bigger and harder to move. There’s more clay, which makes the surface feel slower. The string tensions vary; the players are new, each stringing differently.”
Alcaraz also explained why it was so important to win this match:
“Adapting to all of this in less than a day is complicated, which is why I think it’s crucial to win the first matches at all costs to keep adjusting and understanding the current conditions. After Monte-Carlo, having so little time to refocus and bring my best here… that’s also tough sometimes.”
Alcaraz is aiming to win the Barcelona Open for the third time. He won titles here in 2022 and 2023 but missed last year’s tournament due to injury.
Ruud Defeats Galan with Confident Performance
Earlier in the day, Casper Ruud, ranked world number 10, also advanced to the last 16. He beat Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia 6-4, 6-3 in a clean match where he didn’t face a single break point.
Ruud hit 25 winners and controlled most of the rallies. He broke Galan’s serve in the 10th game of the first set. In the second set, he broke again at 4-2 and then served out the match.
After the match, Ruud said, “I’m happy to be back in Barcelona and get a straight-sets win. One year ago, I had one of the best weeks of my life, so the memories come back.”
Ruud is the defending champion in Barcelona and is still looking for his first title of 2024.
Tsitsipas and Fils Also Reach the Last 16
Besides Alcaraz and Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Fils also moved on to the next round.
Tsitsipas, last year’s runner-up, had no trouble beating American Reilly Opelka. He won 6-2, 6-2 by staying consistent and forcing errors. Opelka, known for his powerful serve and height (6’11”), could not hold off Tsitsipas’s baseline pressure.
Meanwhile, Arthur Fils from France beat Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain 7-6(6), 6-3. Fils kept his focus during the first-set tie-break and used the momentum to close out the second set.
