Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semifinals of the Barcelona Open after defeating Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-3 in a tough quarterfinal clash. The two-time Barcelona champion needed one hour and 39 minutes to secure the win, battling through a tense first set before raising his level in the second.
Alcaraz praised his performance, particularly his ability to maintain composure and consistency in the second set. Reflecting on the match, he highlighted the importance of patience when facing a relentless opponent like de Minaur.
“Beating Alex is never easy — he’s like a wall,” Alcaraz said post-match. “You need to be patient, dig deep, and work for every point. I gave everything, especially in the second set, which I felt was flawless.”
Match Recap
De Minaur came out strong, saving a break point in his opening service game and then breaking Alcaraz in the third to take a 3-1 lead. The Spaniard struck back with a love break in the sixth game, only for de Minaur to respond immediately with another break.
The momentum shifted in the crucial eighth game when de Minaur squandered three game points. Alcaraz capitalized with a perfect drop shot to break back, then held serve in a tight 11th game. At 5-6, de Minaur failed to force a tiebreak, handing over the set with a backhand error on Alcaraz’s second set point.
“The pressure was high,” Alcaraz said. “Breaking back at 3-4 was critical. Those two big points in games 10 and 12 were emotional moments for me — they showed Alex I was in it to fight.”
Alcaraz Finds Rhythm in Second Set
The second set saw Alcaraz in control. After both players held serve through the opening games, Alcaraz broke for a 4-2 lead with a precise backhand down the line. He then held at love for 5-2 and closed out the match in the ninth game after forcing an error from the Aussie.
While de Minaur’s serve faltered — landing only 52% of first serves and committing six double faults — Alcaraz took full advantage, breaking him four times from eight chances.
Statistically, Alcaraz tallied 16 winners to 34 unforced errors, while keeping de Minaur to just 10 winners and 33 errors.
Looking Ahead
This win marks Alcaraz’s third consecutive semifinal appearance in Barcelona. He will face Holger Rune next as he chases a third title at the tournament.
“I’m pleased with my level and looking forward to the next match,” Alcaraz said. “It’s about staying patient and composed — that’s the only way to beat someone as tough as Alex.”
