Carlos Alcaraz Cruises Past Virtanen in Barcelona Opener, Eyes Top Ranking
Carlos Alcaraz beat qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 in his Barcelona Open opener. The two-time champion can regain the No. 1 ranking with a title this week.
Alcaraz starts Barcelona title bid with straight-sets win over Virtanen...
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz rolled past Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday as he opened his bid for a third Barcelona Open crown.
The Spaniard fell to new No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final on Sunday. He can take back the top ranking with a title in Barcelona this week, where he won in 2022 and 2023.
Alcaraz, last year’s runner-up in Catalonia, had a slow start in the opening-round matchup but settled in and took control with a dominant second set.
“I didn't have much time to adjust in terms of training - this morning was the first practice session I'd done here in Barcelona, which makes it a bit hard to find good sensations at the start,” said Alcaraz afterwards.
“I'm happy to have come through the problems I had in the first set.
“Little by little I started feeling maybe a bit better, and I'm happy to win the match in straight sets and give myself another chance to try to feel a bit better in the next round.”
Alcaraz needed a physio to look at his forearm but downplayed it, saying he hoped it was “nothing” and that minor niggles are to be expected with no rest between tournaments.
World No. 130 Virtanen opened strong before a full house at the Rafael Nadal court, testing Alcaraz’s serve and holding his own with little trouble.
Through in two ✌️@carlosalcaraz begins his quest for a third Barcelona title with a 6-4 6-2 win over Virtanen!#BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/GL1fYuaPFR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 14, 2026
Carlos Alcaraz broke in the 10th game to clinch the opening set.
The players traded breaks early in the second before Alcaraz broke at love and held to go up 4-1.
Alcaraz earned triple match point on Virtanen’s serve and converted the first with a cross-court winner.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion will meet Czech Tomas Machac next in round two.
Earlier, second seed Lorenzo Musetti beat Martin Landaluce 7-5, 6-2 to claim his first win since the Australian Open.
Alex de Minaur edged Sebastian Ofner 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, while Karen Khachanov fell in an upset to Camilo Ugo Carabelli, 6-3, 6-4.
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