On Tuesday at the Rafa Nadal centre court, the top-seeded Spaniard, ranked No. 2 in the world, won by converting five of his seven break chances
At the Barcelona Open, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated Nuno Borges with ease, winning 6-3, 6-1 to begin his championship defence.
To earn the victory at the Rafa Nadal centre court on Tuesday, the top-seeded Spaniard, ranked No. 2 in the world, capitalised on five of his seven break chances.
The 19-year-old Alcaraz remarked, “It’s always different to play here; it’s not just any other tournament for me.” “The supporters are behind me at home. It’s always pleasant and unique. Alcaraz, who won twice this year, will be playing on the European clay court tour for the first time in 2023. Due to back problems and inflammation in his left hand, he missed Monte Carlo and hadn’t raced since Miami in March.
Alcaraz declared, “I feel fantastic. “Moving well and hitting the ball really well, so I feel a lot of confidence playing here in Barcelona.” Roberto Bautista Agut, a fellow Spaniard and the 13th seed who overcame Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2, 6-2, will be Alcaraz’s next opponent.
American fifth seed Frances Tiafoe fell against Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland 6-4, 6-7 (3), and 6-4. In the decisive set, the 40th-ranked Ruusuvuori came back from being down 3-0.
In Cincinnati, the American was a relatively unknown college player with a world ranking of 229, while the third-seeded Norwegian fell to Shelton last year.
Ruud remarked, “I wanted my payback. another terrain, another continent, different competition… To create the points on clay, I felt like I had a little bit more time than usual. This season, the 20-year-old Shelton, who had his breakthrough tournament in Cincinnati, participated in his first tournaments on clay courts and rose to the position of No. 37 in the world. In Estoril and Monte Carlo, he lost in the second round after being ousted in the first.
