Alcaraz Beats Djere to Cruise into Barcelona Open Quarters
Spanish star steps up in style to continue fine clay form at the Barcelona Open quarters
Carlos Alcaraz has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, especially when the clay is beneath his feet and the crowd is behind him. And on a sun-kissed afternoon in Barcelona, the 21-year-old Spaniard gave the local fans another glimpse of the magic that’s made him one of the most exciting players in the world.
Facing off against Serbia’s Laslo Djere in the third round of the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz barely broke a sweat in a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory that booked his place in the quarter-finals. It wasn’t just a routine win—it was a clear signal that the top seed and world number two is in no mood to be dethroned as the clay court king of this iconic Catalonian tournament.
After a trophy-winning campaign at the Monte Carlo Masters last week, Alcaraz returned home looking sharp, composed, and in control. And against Djere, who has proven a tricky customer on clay in the past, he made sure there were few questions about who belonged in the last eight.
Lightning start sets the tone
The early moments of the match were pure Alcaraz: fast, fluid, and fearless. He won the first five games in a blur, striking eight winners without reply. Djere, ranked 34th in the world, could barely catch his breath before he found himself down a double break and staring at a scoreboard that already looked ominous.
There’s something about Alcaraz’s game that’s particularly devastating on clay. He doesn’t just move well—he glides. He doesn’t just hit with power—he crafts each shot with intention. On Thursday, he had the crowd gasping with whipped forehands that seemed to paint the lines and drop shots that died with a thud just over the net.
By the time he closed out the first set 6-2, it felt like we were watching a man on a mission—one who has his eyes set not just on another Barcelona Open title, but perhaps an even bigger clay prize down the road in Paris.
A brief wobble—and a swift recovery
But even the greats stumble now and then, and in the second set, Djere found a foothold. With a steadier hand and a touch more aggression, the Serbian broke Alcaraz’s serve and surged into a 4-2 lead. The mood shifted. For a brief few minutes, the murmurs in the crowd grew louder, the tension more palpable.
And then, like clockwork, Alchttps://euromatch.news/cat/tennis/araz flipped the switch.
“After going 4-2 down in the second, I played a bit more like what my level is,” he told reporters afterward. “I am very happy that I could step up my level, and seem more like my best. I want to continue that.”
Continue he did. He reeled off the next four games in quick succession, breaking Djere twice with a combination of brutal forehands and court coverage that left his opponent flat-footed. The comeback was swift, clinical, and very much in character.
With the match wrapped up in just under 90 minutes, Alcaraz pumped his fist and soaked in the cheers of the home faithful. For those in the stands, it wasn’t just a win—it was a show.
On to the quarter-finals—and a familiar face
Alcaraz’s reward for his efforts is a quarter-final meeting with fifth seed Alex de Minaur, the Australian speedster who wasted little time dismantling Britain’s Jacob Fearnley earlier in the day. De Minaur’s 6-1, 6-2 win was equally emphatic, setting up a tantalising clash between two of the tour’s fastest movers.
The matchup promises fireworks. While Alcaraz is known for his power and panache, De Minaur brings a relentless defensive game and unmatched hustle. The two have faced off before, most recently in the 2023 Queen’s Club final, where Alcaraz triumphed. But on clay, and in front of a partisan Spanish crowd, it’s hard to imagine Alcaraz letting this one slip.
Still, De Minaur’s performance this week has been quietly impressive. He’s yet to drop a set in the tournament and looks to be building confidence at the right time. If anyone can test Alcaraz’s rhythm and force longer rallies, it’s him.
Big names fall as the draw opens up
Elsewhere in the draw, there were some surprising twists. Russian fourth seed Andrey Rublev, one of the most powerful baseline hitters on tour, crashed out to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets—7-5, 6-4. The Spaniard, unseeded but never short on flair, produced one of his cleanest performances of the season, absorbing Rublev’s pace and redirecting it with interest.
Davidovich Fokina will now face Karen Khachanov in an all-Russian quarter-final. Khachanov saw off Spain’s Jaume Munar 7-5, 6-4 in another tightly contested affair. Though not as high-profile as the Alcaraz-De Minaur clash, this matchup could prove just as entertaining, with both players known for their big serves and aggressive groundstrokes.
As the tournament inches closer to its finale, the field is starting to take shape in an interesting way. With Rublev out and other top seeds already eliminated earlier in the week, the path to the title looks clearer for Alcaraz. But on clay, surprises are never far away.
A crowd favourite finding his groove
For Alcaraz, this tournament is more than just another stop on the tour. Barcelona is where he won his first ATP 500 title back in 2022, and the emotional connection to the city and its fans runs deep.
There’s an ease to his demeanor here, a joy that’s infectious both on and off the court. Whether he’s chatting with ball kids, sharing a laugh with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, or fist-bumping fans after a win, Alcaraz seems entirely at home.
And when he’s playing like this—confident, creative, composed—it’s hard to see anyone stopping him.
Eyes on Roland Garros, but one step at a time
Of course, looming over the clay season is the shadow of Roland Garros. The French Open remains the ultimate prize on clay, and with Rafael Nadal’s future uncertain and Novak Djokovic navigating a challenging start to the year, the spotlight has firmly shifted to Alcaraz.
But the young Spaniard isn’t looking too far ahead. For now, his focus is firmly on the Barcelona Open, where he remains the man to beat.
One more win and he’ll be in the semi-finals, two more and he’ll be lifting the trophy once again. If he keeps playing like this, few would bet against it.
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