Top seed Carlos Alcaraz showcased his class at the Barcelona Open, defeating fifth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, to secure a place in the semi-finals.
The Spaniard, ranked world number two, delivered a composed performance, recovering from early breaks in the first set to ultimately control the match.
The 21-year-old now faces France’s Arthur Fils, who advanced after Stefanos Tsitsipas retired hurt during their quarter-final clash. Alcaraz, fresh from his victory over Fils in Monte Carlo last week, will look to continue his strong form as he targets back-to-back titles.
Reflecting on his match against De Minaur, Alcaraz admitted initial struggles with his serve: “I started quite badly… but I calmed myself down and started to think positively again. The first set was really tight, but in the second, I played some great tennis. I’m really happy.”
Meanwhile, defending champion Casper Ruud suffered a surprise straight-set defeat to Denmark’s Holger Rune, 6-4, 6-2.
Rune’s commanding performance, marked by consistent breaks in both sets, secures him a semi-final berth against Karen Khachanov, who edged past Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-4, 7-5.
