Alcaraz required medical attention at the end of the first set during his opening home match of the season. After a doctor massaged his right wrist and arm, the Spanish player returned to the court, resuming play without any apparent physical discomfort.

Alcaraz during his match against Virtanen in the first round of the Barcelona Open, on Pista Nadal, Barcelona, Spain on 14/4. *Reuters*

Alcaraz initially struggled as Virtanen played with determination and a relaxed mindset. This "nothing to lose" approach, coupled with Alcaraz's 23 unforced errors in the first set, allowed Virtanen to maintain an even contest. However, the Finnish player failed to hold his final service game of the set.

Despite his best efforts, Virtanen's first-set loss eroded his confidence, diminishing his playing effectiveness. Across the net, Alcaraz adopted a more conservative approach, contrasting with his aggressive first-set play. This strategy helped him reduce unforced errors and capitalize on opportunities. Alcaraz successfully converted all three break points he created in the second set, securing the overall win.

On 14/4, both Alcaraz and Virtanen recorded 11 winners and a similar number of unforced errors, 32 versus 33 respectively. With neither player excelling on their first serve, the decisive factor proved to be second serve points. The Spanish player significantly outperformed his world number 130 opponent in this metric, achieving a 55% success rate compared to Virtanen's 30%.

"It's great to be back here and win in front of the Barcelona crowd. This means a lot", Alcaraz stated after the 85-minute match. "I only had one practice session this morning to get used to the playing conditions, which are quite different from Monte Carlo. Overall, I am satisfied with how I played."

Alcaraz will face Tomas Machac in the second round, who defeated Sebastian Baez 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Alcaraz previously won the Barcelona Open in 2022 and 2023. At the season's inaugural clay-court event, the 22-year-old was unable to defend his Monte Carlo Masters title, having lost to Jannik Sinner in the final.

By Vy Anh