Alcaraz Overcomes Injury Scare to Advance in Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return to action in Barcelona, defeating Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 to reach the last 16 of the Barcelona Open, just 48 hours after his Monte-Carlo Masters final loss to Jannik Sinner. Despite a medical timeout for a wrist issue, Alcaraz showed no signs of discomfort during his 85-minute win. The Spaniard, who must win the tournament to reclaim the world No 1 spot, expressed his delight at the victory, saying, "It feels great to be back and to get another win in front of my people in Barcelona, it means everything." Alcaraz, who faces Tomas Machac next, is chasing his third title of the season and is motivated by the opportunity to quickly reclaim the world No 1 ranking from Sinner. However, he emphasized that steady improvement during the clay season remains his top priority. With Sinner absent from the draw, Alcaraz's chances of capturing the trophy on familiar territory have improved. The two-time champion in Barcelona is focused on staying on his current path and keeping improving, with results and points serving as extra motivation. Alcaraz hopes to play a full schedule on clay this season, with events to follow in Madrid and Rome ahead of his French Open title defence. Fans can watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app.