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After skipping the Monte Carlo Masters due to an injury, world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is back in action at the Barcelona Open. The defending champion made a winning start at the home event and defeated Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-1 in 63 minutes to advance into the third round.
The Spaniard served at 49%, but no one could notice that. Carlos dropped 12 points behind the initial shot and lost serve once from two chances offered to the Portuguese. Borges claimed only five points behind the second serve and allowed Alcaraz to turn 53% of the return points into five breaks from seven opportunities.
Carlos fired 11 winners and 14 unforced errors, landing 13 service winners and reducing his opponent to only two direct points from the field! Alcaraz netted a forehand in the encounter's first game and leveled the score at 1-1 with a mighty forehand winner in the next one.
Carlos Alcaraz made an impressive title defense start at the Barcelona Open.
The home favorite earned three break chances in the third game with a deep return and seized the first after Nuno's double fault. Carlos forced the rival's mistake at 2-1 to confirm the break and painted a forehand down the line winner in game five to deliver his second break and forge a 4-1 advantage.
World no. 2 held in game six with a perfect drop shot winner and served for the opener at 5-2. Carlos netted a backhand in the eighth game and experienced a break point. Borges drew the youngster's error to seize it, pull the break back and prolong the set.
Alcaraz left that temporary setback behind and forced Borges' mistake in game nine to earn set points. Carlos converted the second to wrap up the set 6-3 with his third break and gain momentum. Alcaraz held at 15 at the start of the second set and grabbed a break a few minutes later after a deep backhand return.
The Spaniard raced into a 3-0 lead with a hold at love and took another big step toward the finish line. Carlos faced a break point in game five, denied it with a forced error and fired a forehand down the line winner for a 4-1 advantage.
Alcaraz secured another break of serve in the sixth game to open a 5-1 gap and serve for the victory. World no. 2 held at love with an unreturned serve to seal the deal and set the third-round clash with Roberto Bautista Agut.