Confident Carlos Alcaraz looking forward to carrying good form at Barcelona Open

Carlos Alcaraz is feeling confident after winning the Monte-Carlo Masters and he is looking forward to giving his best in the upcoming Barcelona Open. The Spaniard bested Lorenzo Musetti in three sets in Monaco to win his maiden Monte Carlo title.

Alcaraz defeated players like Francisco Cerundolo, Arthur Fils, Daniel Altmaier, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to go all the way in Monte-Carlo.

The 21-year-old also climbed to the no.2 position in the PIF ATP Rankings, surpassing Alexander Zverev.

“It’s a privilege for me to return to Barcelona, which I feel was and is my home,” admitted the Spaniard on Monday as he arrived at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899. “I’m very happy to be able to come here, with the Monte Carlo title, feeling confident and above all feeling fit. I’m ready to compete and to feel the warmth of my people. Playing in Barcelona, in Spain, again is an incredible feeling.”

“I gained a lot of confidence in Monte-Carlo,” confessed the Murcia native. “I wasn’t expecting to win, just to get some time on clay and ending up winning the title gives me a lot of confidence for what is to come. But that’s not the same as seeing myself as the favorite on the clay swing… nowadays there’s a long list of players who can make a splash at every tournament.”

In addition to Alcaraz, Barcelona will welcome title contenders such as defending champion Casper Ruud, four-time finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, Alex de Minaur and Holger Rune. 

The Spaniard continued: “You go to tournaments without knowing who might win, there are always six or seven players who could do it. I don’t know, I wouldn’t say I’m favourite for the clay swing. I just arrive with expectations as low as possible. The important thing for me is to enjoy myself and, above all, leave the court happy.”

The top seed Alcaraz will begin his Barcelona Open campaign against America’s Ethan Quinn on Tuesday.