Match Highlights
Carlos Alcaraz Stages Impressive Comeback with First Barcelona Win; Fils Thrills by Saving 2 Match Points
Musetti marks his return with a victory, De Minaur progresses smoothly
April 14, 2026
Image Credit: Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz Shines in Barcelona on Tuesday.
By Sam Jacot
After a tough loss to Jannik Sinner in the Monte-Carlo final, Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, defeating Finland’s Otto Virtanen with a score of 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the ATP 500 event.
Entering the tournament ranked No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Alcaraz has a chance to reclaim the top spot from Sinner by clinching the title in Barcelona. Despite his recent setback, the 22-year-old Spaniard remains determined.
Alcaraz experienced a medical timeout for an arm concern at the end of the first set, but it didn’t seem to hinder his performance as he wrapped up the match in 85 minutes. Tailoring his strategy for the upcoming match against Tomas Machac, who triumphed over Sebastian Baez, Alcaraz looks poised for continued success.
“It’s wonderful to be back on home soil and to secure a win in front of my supporters here in Barcelona. It truly means everything,” Alcaraz expressed. “Today was my first practice session in these conditions, which differ from Monte-Carlo, but overall, I am thrilled with my performance.”
Alcaraz has fond memories of the prestigious ATP 500 clay-court event, having lifted the trophy in both 2022 and 2023. Last year, he reached the finals only to face defeat against Denmark’s Holger Rune. This week, he’s chasing his third title of the season following his Career Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open and a win at the ATP 500 event in Doha.
Aiming to get back into the winner’s circle after a near miss against Sinner in Monte-Carlo, Alcaraz is seeking to seize this opportunity to regain his No. 1 ranking. Sinner, currently not competing this week, has set the stage for Alcaraz’s comeback.
In other matches on Day 2 in Barcelona, second seed Lorenzo Musetti made a strong comeback by defeating Spanish wild card Martin Landaluce, 7-5, 6-2, marking his first tour-level success since January’s Australian Open.
Having faced an early exit in Monte-Carlo the previous week, Musetti, who dropped in the PIF ATP Rankings, bounced back with dominant baseline exchanges in the second set. He now prepares to face Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the next round.
Meanwhile, French star Arthur Fils showcased his resilience by saving two match points in a thrilling 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) victory over Terence Atmane. Competing on clay for the first time this year, Fils is looking to replicate last year’s success in Barcelona, where he reached the semi-finals.
Third seed Alex de Minaur also forged ahead, besting Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 7-6(7), 6-4, after narrowly escaping a set point in the tie-break. De Minaur aims for a deeper run, recalling his semi-final appearance at the ATP 500 clay-court event in 2022.
Lastly, Andrey Rublev secured his spot in the next round with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Bucharest champion Mariano Navone and will face Lorenzo Sonego next.
