Alcaraz fights through early niggles in Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz fought off serving problems early on to dismiss the upset plans of Alex de Minaur, with the Spanish top seed reaching the Barcelona Open semi-finals 7-5, 6-4.

Last weekend’s Monte Carlo champion moved to within a pair of wins of a repeat in the chase for a third title at the home clay event.

Alcaraz twice trailed by a break in the opening set against his Australian opponent who learned his clay tennis in Spain.

But the local fought from 1-3 down to finally take the set on his second opportunity before whipping his game into shape for a sprint to the finish as he dominated to close out a third straight-set win of the week.

Two time Barca winner Alcaraz has now won his last right clay matches to reach the 36th semi-final of his career.

“It was really tight in the first set, I’m glad I ended up winning it.” he said. “In the second I played well the entire time.

“I started quite badly with serve in the first few games. But I calmed myself down and improved that.

“I started thinking positive and kept going to find my good tennis.”

Alcaraz leads the ATP with 23 clay victories this season – one more than seventh seed de Minaur.

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz winning in Barcelona – by Banc Sabadell Trofeo