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Two years after wasting a match point in the Barcelona Open final against Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas kicked off another title chase at the notable clay event. The 2nd seed met Pedro Cachin in the second round and scored a 6-4, 6-2 victory in an hour and 18 minutes for a place in the last 16.
Stefanos grabbed one return game in the opener and broke the rival's resistance at the start of the second to emerge at the top in under 80 minutes. The Greek lost 15 points in nine service games and never faced a break point.
The pressure was on the Argentine, and he could not endure it following a decent resistance in the opener. Cachin failed to defend any of the three break points offered to Tsitsipas, ending his run in the second round. Pedro held at 30 in the encounter's first game with a forehand crosscourt winner at the net.
Stefanos Tsitsipas made a winning start in Barcelona.
Tsitsipas held after deuce in game two with a strong forehand and locked the result at 2-2 with a forehand winner in game four. The Greek attacked the net in the fifth game and fired a smash winner to create break chances.
Stefanos seized the first to build the advantage and open a 3-2 gap. Tsitsipas landed another forehand winner in game six to cement the lead before Cachin held at love with a service winner in the next one to remain within one break deficit.
Stefanos moved 5-3 up with a service winner and served for the opener at 5-4. The Greek held after deuce to wrap up the set and gain a boost ahead of set number two. Pedro squandered game points at the start of the second set and got broken after Stefanos' forehand crosscourt winner.
A better-ranked player held at love in game two and earned another break in the next one for a massive 3-0 advantage. Tsitsipas moved 4-0 up with a hold at love and landed a perfect drop shot winner two games later for 5-1.
Pedro reduced the deficit to 5-2, and Stefanos served for the triumph in game eight. Tsitsipas sealed the deal with a hold at 15 at 5-2 to advance into the next round and set an entertaining clash against Denis Shapovalov.