Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return to competition in Barcelona, just 48 hours after his Monte-Carlo Masters final loss to Jannik Sinner. Despite an injury scare, Alcaraz defeated Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 to reach the round of 16, keeping his bid to reclaim the world No 1 spot alive.
Alcaraz, who needs to win the tournament to surpass Sinner, showed no signs of discomfort during his 85-minute victory on home soil. This win marks his 22nd victory of 2026 and his 27th win in his last 29 clay-court matches.
"Returning to Barcelona and winning in front of my home crowd means everything to me," Alcaraz said, looking forward to his next match against Tomas Machac. "I had to adapt quickly to the conditions here, which are different from Monte Carlo, but overall, I'm pleased with my performance and problem-solving in the first set. "I played great tennis and hope to feel even better in the next round." Alcaraz is seeking his third title of the season, following his Australian Open and ATP 500 Doha victories. He emphasized that while regaining the top ranking is a motivation, his primary focus remains on steady improvement throughout the clay season.
With Sinner absent from the Barcelona draw, Alcaraz has a chance to reclaim the top spot by winning the tournament. The Spaniard jokingly said he won't miss Sinner this week and acknowledged the rivalry between them as a great motivator.
"My goal is to stay on the path of improvement, and results are just an added motivation," Alcaraz explained. "We have a clear plan for training and matches, and that's my main priority." Alcaraz aims to play a full clay-court schedule, including events in Madrid and Rome, before defending his French Open title in Paris on May 24. Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, with over 50% more live sports available to Sky Sports customers at no extra cost.