In difficulty, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (2nd in the world) managed to get rid of his compatriot Roberto Bautista (25th) 6-3, 7-5 Thursday in the third round of the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona, and will face another Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Alcaraz, defending winner and No.1 seed in Barcelona, struggled to get the upper hand in the first set, which he managed to snatch thanks to a high-flying defensive point that allowed him to take the lead. ‘advantage. He then showed his superiority in the second set, but missed a double break point and let his opponent win a break point at 3-3… before resuming his forward march.
To reach the final and defend his title, the 19-year-old Spanish prodigy, who signs in Barcelona his start to the European campaign on clay, will first have to get rid of another of his compatriots, Alejandro Davidovich (38th in the world). ), four years his senior, who beat Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 7-5. For his entry into the running in Barcelona, Alcaraz had dispatched his first match on Tuesday, against the Portuguese Nuno Borges (79th in the world) 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour on Tuesday in the second round.
