Carlos Alcaraz, world number 2, today beat the British Dan Evans (26th) with great authority 6-2 double and will defend the title of the ATP 500 in Barcelona on Sunday in a promising final against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th ).
The British serve-volley was not a problem for a alcaraz who won without forcing the machine, in one hour and 20 minutes, a relief after two complicated duels, marked by the wind, against his compatriots Roberto Bautista Agut and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“I have had a lot of time to think, to play my game, the level of the shots today has been very high. We have played at a very complete level, both in tennis and mentally, knowing what we had to do”, said ‘Carlitos’ after the duel.
“How you get to a final is very important, feeling confident. I arrive feeling good on the track. We have to continue focused on giving my best level, trying to play 100%”, he added.
It was more complicated tsitsipas against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (20th), whom he won 6-4, 5-7 and 6-3.
Last year Alcaraz won the title in the Catalan capital, beating his compatriot Pablo Carreño Busta 6-3, 6-2 in the final. In the quarterfinals he fairly fired the Greek.
With his victory this Saturday, the 19-year-old from Murcia brings his record this season to 23 wins and 2 losses.
Tsitsipas played the final in Barcelona in 2018 and 2021, losing in both against Rafael Nadal, absent from this edition due to injury.
Willing to protect the ?
That’s how it closed ?? @carlosalcaraz his win over Evans to a standing ovation. @bcnopenbs | #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/dNLfY3D69H
— ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) April 22, 2023
“Take a step forward”
After two weeks of interruption due to the physical bill of his title in Indian Wells and the semifinals in Miami, which he lost to Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz has been finding his cruising rhythm this week in Barcelona.
Now he will have a tall challenge, a Tsitsipas who showed a spectacular level against Musetti in the first set, although he later went down and delivered the second. But the 24-year-old Greek rose in the third to win his toughest match of the tournament after beating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and Australia’s Alex de Minaur with authority.
“Carlos has shown in the last two years that he is capable of giving his best level, so it is a different challenge. I have to concentrate as much as possible and wait to reach my best level. I have to take a step forward, I have no other choice”, Tsitsipas said, ‘ahead’ of the result of the second semi-final.
The final will face two players who next week will land in the Masters 1000 in Madrid, where Alcaraz also defends the crown, as great favorites after the absences due to injury of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who announced his withdrawal this Saturday due to problems in a elbow after falling on Friday in the Banja Luka quarterfinals.
After Madrid, will come the Rome Tournament (May 10-21) and Roland Garros (May 28-June 11) where Nadal will defend his title.
1⃣1⃣ finals on clay
?? @steftsitsipas He once again exhibited his talent on the way to a new final in Barcelona.
? @TennisTV | #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/x0cflmJKow
— ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) April 22, 2023
