BARCELONA OPEN: The ATP Tour returns to the clay of Spain on Monday. Can the home nation maintain their recent domination in Barcelona?
Carlos Alcaraz – reigning champion
The reigning champion and world number two is the highest seed and favourite at another tournament.
Despite being knocked out at the semi-final of the Miami Open to Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz has held firm in the number two spot and looks to us the best bet for an outright winner at this tournament. Alcaraz has the ability to beat any player in the world, his speed, power, range of shots and hunger eclipsing the majority of his opponents on tour.
His loss to Sinner was his first loss in 11 matches and we expect him to get back to business after deciding to miss out on the Monte Carlo Masters this week.
Even the best players don’t win every week, but it is almost certain this man will make the Spanish clay his playground once again and looking at his track record, a Grand Slam and two titles already in 2023, he’ll be in the running for this one too.
Daniil Medvedev – the challenger
Daniil Medvedev has been there and about for the few years; one of the favourites for every tournament he enters and his four titles in 2023 and 19 in his career so far, back up his claims for any title he goes for.
He has played very well in the last two tournaments reaching the quarter-final of the Monte Carlo Masters and the final of the Miami Open. If he continues in this form, he can beat anyone and will make it to the latter stages here – his recent close shaves with the two titles perhaps spurring him on to go a step further.
We’re backing Medvedev to give this one a real go having come so close recently and with the confidence he will take from his four trophies already this year, there is no reason why he couldn’t make it a fifth. The only factor that could play a part in a potential demise is the surface – he’s never won a title on clay courts in his career.
Jannik Sinner – back for more?
Fresh off the back of a title win in Miami, Jannik Sinner will be full of confidence that he can do it again on the clay in Spain.
Born and raised in Italy, Sinner is used to the dusty courts of the Mediterranean and will feel familiar to the conditions in Barcelona. He has also won a clay tournament before in the Umag Open in Croatia and looking at how he is playing in Monte Carlo, having beaten Hubert Hurkacz the world number 13, he is in good shape and form and ready to challenge for another trophy.
Another factor that will give him confidence is his recent victory over the tournament favourite, Carlos Alcaraz. Coming from behind, he dismantled the ex-world number one on his way to the Miami title, showcasing just how threatening he can be. Sinner is one to seriously consider in Barcelona.
Cameron Norrie – the dark horse
British Cameron Norrie has struggled for form recently, getting knocked out in early stages of tournaments when he should really be pushing for finals and titles with the ability he possesses.
He has won on clay this year though, taking the Rio de Janeiro Open and he certainly could be one of the favourites here, but his three losses in a row make it hard to back him for the victory with real confidence.
Having said that, he has recently beaten Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev, two of the most consistent top ten players in the world at the moment. To be in with a chance here, he will need to rapidly rediscover his winning formula and escape the mini dip he finds himself in currently – the question is whether or not Barcelona will be where he does it.
While he is certainly unlikely to claim another title in the lull he is in, he will have high returning odds when he faces the better players may even cause an upset or two. He is one to keep a keen eye on.
