Carlos Alcaraz sets up Alejandro Davidovich Fokina quarter-final after win over Roberto Bautista Agut at Barcelona Open
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Updated 20/04/2023 at 18:52 GMT
Carlos Alcaraz is hoping to retain the first ATP Tour title of his career at the Barcelona Open and he is still in with a chance after defeating fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut in their second-round tie. He will now face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, another compatriot, in the quarter-finals on Friday afternoon at the Pista Rafa Nadal venue in Spain.
"It's a very special place for me"- Alcaraz gets confidence to play in Barcelona
Carlos Alcaraz battled to a 6-3 7-5 victory over Roberto Bautista-Agut in the second round of the Barcelona Open on Thursday in Spain.
Alcaraz was looking to retain his first ever ATP Tour championship, having won the Barcelona Open last season during his breakout year.
The 19-year-old defeated Nuno Borges in the previous round to reach the last 16 and set up the tie against the 13th seed.
Bautista Agust made light work of another Spaniard, Bernabe Zapata Miralles in his first-round tie at Pista Rafa Nadal.
With the first set at 3-3, Bautista Agut appeared to be holding his own, but the youngster asserted his superiority as the match went on, and two break points were converted from six to take him one set up.
Alcaraz broke the 35-year-old veteran to move ahead quickly in the second set, but Bautista Agut again showed his experience as he took the chance to break himself, moving to level the scores at 3-3.
Bautista Agut levelled things at 5-5 again only for Alcaraz to pull off a crucial break and edge ahead before wrapping things up with his serve.
Alcaraz will now face another Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarter-finals, which he will play on Friday afternoon.
"I'm very happy to go through to the next round, it was a very difficult game," he said after his win. "Everyone knows the capacity Roberto has, how tough he is, and it wasn't easy at all with the wind.
"We say that games like this you have to win with professionalism and hard work."
Britain's Dan Evans reached the quarter-finals after he beat Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-4, while his compatriot Cameron Norrie fell 3-6 6-4 6-1 to Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
Evans will play Francisco Cerundolo in the quarter-finals, after the Argentine pulled off an upset to defeat Casper Ruud 7-6(5) 6-3 in the day's final match.
Jannik Sinner defeated Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1 4-6 6-3, and Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-2 earlier in the day.
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