Alcaraz Overcomes Injury Scare to Advance in Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz made a successful return to action in Barcelona, defeating Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 to reach the last 16, despite a wrist issue that required a medical timeout. The Spanish player, who lost to Jannik Sinner in the Monte-Carlo Masters final just 48 hours prior, showed no signs of discomfort during his 85-minute win. Alcaraz, who must win the tournament to reclaim the world No 1 spot, expressed his happiness at being back on home soil and is looking forward to his next match against Tomas Machac. "It feels great to be back and to get another win in front of my people in Barcelona, it means everything," Alcaraz said. The opportunity to quickly reclaim the top ranking from Sinner provides additional motivation, but steady improvement during the clay season remains his top priority. With Sinner absent from the draw, Alcaraz's hopes of capturing the trophy on familiar territory have been boosted. He is chasing his third title of the season and aims to play a full schedule on clay, with events to follow in Madrid and Rome ahead of his French Open title defence.