Alex de Minaur has suffered another setback ahead of Roland Garros, falling to Carlos Alcaraz for the fourth consecutive time, this time in the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open. The Australian gave a strong performance early in the match but ultimately fell short, losing 7-5, 6-3 to the world No. 2.
De Minaur started the first set aggressively, breaking Alcaraz’s serve to go up 3-1. He managed another break after Alcaraz leveled, but the Spaniard regained control, winning four of the final five games to claim the set. Alcaraz then elevated his play in the second, closing out the match and extending his win streak to eight matches following his title run in Monte Carlo.
Despite the loss, de Minaur collected 200 ATP points, allowing him to climb in the live rankings. He now sits at World No. 7, leapfrogging Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev, thanks in part to his deep run in Monte Carlo the previous week.
Alcaraz Reflects on the Win
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz admitted to a shaky start but praised de Minaur’s intensity.
“I started quite badly with the serve. I was struggling a bit mentally,” Alcaraz said. “But I calmed down and started thinking more positively. Alex came out strong and played really aggressively. The first set was really tight.”
De Minaur’s Progress on Clay
Although disappointed, de Minaur continues to show improvement on clay. His bigger forehand and tireless defense could position him well for a strong run at Roland Garros later this season. With a top-eight seed now likely, he could avoid facing players like Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, or Novak Djokovic until the latter stages in Paris.
Katie Boulter Set for Second French Open Appearance
Meanwhile, de Minaur’s fiancée Katie Boulter is preparing for her second main-draw appearance at Roland Garros, having secured direct entry thanks to her improved ranking. The British No. 1 has historically struggled on clay, including a first-round exit in Paris last year, but recent efforts show promise.
Boulter recently helped lead Great Britain to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, clinching key wins on clay against Germany and the Netherlands. She has now arrived in Madrid to begin her WTA clay campaign in preparation for the French Open.
