World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz will return to Barcelona Open next April, seeking the second consecutive title at Pista Arafa Nadal. The youngest world no. 1 in ATP history claimed his first Barcelona title this season and entered the top-10 the following day with fresh 500 ATP points on his tally.
The organizers will bring Carlos to Barcelona next spring, with more good players joining the field in the upcoming months. Alcaraz made his debut at RCTB-1899 courts at 11, returning in the following years and competing in various junior groups.
Carlos played in the qualifying round at the pro event in 2019 at 15, losing in the first round and returning two years later with a wild card. Frances Tiafoe defeated the young gun in straight sets, and Alcaraz fixed that this year.
The Spaniard went all the way to claim his third title of the season and become the youngest Barcelona champion since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
Carlos Alcaraz will seek the Barcelona title defense in 2023.
The Spaniard faced two match points in the semi-final against Alex de Minaur, erasing them and prevailing after three hours and 39 minutes!
Preserving energy, the youngster returned to Pista Rafa Nadal a couple of hours later and faced fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the title clash. Carlos delivered a 6-3, 6-2 victory in 65 minutes to lift his fourth ATP crown 11 days before turning 19!
Interestingly, Alcaraz secured his first Barcelona title on the same day as Rafael Nadal 17 years before! Carlos fired 18 winners and ten unforced errors, dropping six points in eight service games and never facing a break point.
Carreno Busta could not follow those numbers, hitting too many errors and losing serve four times to finish with the runner-up prize. Both players served well in the opening four games before Alcaraz did the first damage on the return.
He seized the second break chance in game five to move in front and fired a forehand winner a few minutes later to open a 4-2 gap in under 20 minutes! Pablo defended five break points in the seventh game to reduce the deficit to 4-3 and remain in touch.
Leaving those chances behind, Carlos fired an ace in the eighth game for a hold at love and a 5-3 advantage. The younger Spaniard grabbed a break a few minutes later after the rival’s massive backhand mistake for 6-3 in 34 minutes.
A teenager closed the second set’s first game with a service winner and repeated that at 1-1. Carlos broke in game six with a deep return that sent him 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line. The youngster secured the seventh game with a forehand winner and broke at love in the next one to seal the deal and lift the trophy.
