Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return to the court, 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 being back on home soil, stating, "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 seeking his third title of the season after winning the Australian Open and the ATP 500 event in Doha. He emphasized that steady improvement during the clay season remains his top priority, but the opportunity to quickly reclaim the world No 1 ranking from Sinner provides additional motivation.
With Sinner absent from the draw, Alcaraz's chances of capturing the trophy on familiar territory have improved. The two-time champion in Barcelona 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.