Carlos Alcaraz commended Alex de Minaur’s significant improvement on clay following their quarter-final clash at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, where the Spaniard secured a 7-5, 6-3 victory. The world No. 2, who extended his win streak to eight matches, acknowledged the Australian’s growing prowess on the surface despite a historically hard-court-heavy game.
“Alex has come a long way on clay,” Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference. “He’s always been tough, but you can see he’s more comfortable now, moving better and finding ways to hurt you on this surface. It’s not just his speed anymore; he’s adding variety and staying in rallies longer. It made today’s match really challenging.”
De Minaur, who reached the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals earlier this month, has adapted his flat groundstroke style to better suit the slower, grittier clay. Alcaraz noted the 26-year-old’s ability to “play more creatively” and “develop points differently” compared to their 2022 Barcelona semi-final, where Alcaraz edged a marathon 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-4 win. Despite taking an early 5-3 lead in the first set, De Minaur couldn’t hold off Alcaraz’s late surge, but his aggressive play and improved court coverage were evident.
The Spaniard’s comments echo De Minaur’s own reflections on his clay-court evolution, with the Australian recently stating he’s “finally understood” how to be “dangerous” on the surface after years of adjustment. Alcaraz’s praise underscores De Minaur’s transformation into a genuine clay-court threat, setting the stage for more competitive battles as the season progresses.[]
