Alcaraz pushed by Quinn in Barcelona clash
In the glowing spring sunshine of Barcelona, world number two Carlos Alcaraz was made to sweat far more than expected in his opening match at the Barcelona Open. Up against American qualifier Ethan Quinn, Alcaraz had to summon all of his resolve and firepower to emerge with a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) win — a straight-sets victory on paper, but one that told a very different story on court.
Quinn, ranked 126th in the world, was supposed to be a warm-up act for the home favourite. But in a stirring second set, the 21-year-old American had the Spanish crowd holding their breath as he broke Alcaraz multiple times, created a set point in the tiebreak, and threatened to flip the match on its head.
Alcaraz, however, dug deep. Gritty, unrelenting, and showing flashes of his trademark flair, he managed to hold firm, win the tiebreak, and punch his ticket to the last 16.
Quinn gives Alcaraz a scare on the Barcelona clay
The first set followed a familiar pattern. Alcaraz opened brightly, using the slow clay to his advantage, mixing in deep topspin forehands with feather-light drop shots that danced just over the net. He saved five break points in the early stages and broke Quinn twice, seemingly cruising toward an easy win.
But Quinn hadn’t flown to Spain to play the role of sparring partner. The American was fearless — aggressive off both wings, serving with purpose, and attacking Alcaraz’s second serve at every opportunity. In the second set, he broke Alcaraz early and held firm, refusing to be cowed by the raucous home crowd.
The pair exchanged breaks three times in total, with Quinn creating several break point chances and playing the kind of tennis that belied his ranking. When he earned a set point in the tiebreak, the pressure in the stadium was palpable.
Alcaraz, though, stayed calm. He saved the set point with a gutsy forehand and reeled off the final three points of the breaker to seal a hard-earned victory.
“It Wasn’t Perfect, But I Found Solutions”
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz admitted it hadn’t been his cleanest performance.
“I made some mistakes, I found it hard to maintain my level, but I’m happy to have solved the problems that came in the second set and to end up winning in two sets,” he told Spanish TV channel TVE.
He’s no stranger to adversity. Even at just 21 years of age, Alcaraz has shown again and again that he can adapt under pressure — a trait that sets him apart from many of his peers. The second set against Quinn was a microcosm of that: shaky spells of play, an opponent playing inspired tennis, and yet still, Alcaraz found a way to win.
Alcaraz sharpens clay game ahead of French Open
This week in Barcelona is more than just a homecoming for Alcaraz — it’s a vital stop on his road to Roland Garros. Having missed last year’s French Open due to injury, the Spaniard is hungry to reclaim the crown he wore in 2022 and 2023.
His movement on clay remains second to none, and his touch — particularly the drop shots that leave opponents frozen — makes him a constant threat. But as he works his way back to full match fitness, performances like this one will help fine-tune his game for the brutal grind of Grand Slam tennis.
Quinn walks away with heads turning
Though he didn’t pull off the upset, Ethan Quinn will return home from Barcelona with plenty of positives. The former NCAA champion showed he belongs on the big stage, not just in terms of shot-making but also in his ability to handle the pressure of a packed stadium rooting against him.
For a player still learning the ropes of life on the ATP Tour, this performance will be a huge confidence boost. He didn’t just take Alcaraz to the wire — he forced one of the world’s best to find a higher gear.
There will be more to come from Quinn, especially if he continues to develop on clay, a surface few Americans have traditionally thrived on.
Ruud and Tsitsipas cruise into Barcelona last 16
Elsewhere in Barcelona, other big names moved through with less drama.
Casper Ruud, the defending champion, dispatched Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan 6-4, 6-3. The Norwegian looked calm and in control, hitting 25 winners and not facing a single break point. Though Ruud has yet to lift a trophy this year, performances like this suggest he’s rounding into form at the right time.
Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, meanwhile, made light work of Reilly Opelka, winning 6-2, 6-2. A finalist here last year, Tsitsipas is also eyeing a return to form after a tricky start to 2025.
What’s next for Alcaraz in Barcelona
Alcaraz now moves into the round of 16, where the competition will only intensify. With each win, the expectations grow louder — from fans, from Spanish media, and from Alcaraz himself.
But if this match proved anything, it’s that he’s ready to embrace the pressure, dig deep when needed, and keep building momentum for the clay-court crown he wants most: Roland Garros.
The road may be bumpy, the opponents spirited, but Carlos Alcaraz is still standing — and still winning.
