After winning the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title on Sunday afternoon, Carlos Alcaraz will take his talents back home to Spain for the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
Alcaraz is obviously a massive favorite to lift the trophy, but it won’t be easy–just as it wasn’t in Monte-Carlo, where he came back from a set down three times. Joining the second-ranked Spaniard in a stacked draw are Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and plenty of other legitimate contenders.
The top half is still stronger, but not quite to the extent that it was when the draw came out. That’s because both Tomas Machac and Lorenzo Musetti withdrew–the latter after losing to Alcaraz in three sets in the Monte-Carlo final. Frances Tiafoe was supposed face Machac in the opening round, but now he is the No. 9 seed where Musetti had previously found himself–and in a weaker bottom half of the bracket. The American will meet Jaume Munar in round one prior to potential matchups with Karen Khachanov (second round), Rublev (quarterfinals), and Ruud (semifinals).
As for Alcaraz, he could have to beat Monte-Carlo semifinalist Alex de Minaur just to reach the semis. At that point he would likely run into either Tsitsipas or a red-hot Arthur Fils. Tsitsipas openings with big-serving Reilly Opelka on the other side of the net, after which the Greek would await either Sebastian Korda or Matteo Arnaldi.
Ricky’s picks for Barcelona
Quarterfinals: Carlos Alcaraz over Alex de Minaur, Arthur Fils over Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina over Karen Khachanov, and Sebastian Baez over Casper Ruud
Semifinals: Fils over Alcaraz and Davidovich Fokina over Baez
Final: Fils over Davidovich Fokina
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.