In a dazzling display of clay-court mastery, Carlos Alcaraz surged into the semifinals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur in a gripping quarterfinal clash on Friday. The top-seeded Spaniard, riding a wave of unstoppable form, secured a 7-5, 6-3 victory in one hour and 39 minutes, extending his remarkable winning streak at the ATP 500 event to 13 consecutive matches. At just 21 years old, Alcaraz continues to cement his status as a dominant force on clay, thrilling fans with his relentless energy and precision.
The match began with a rocky start for Alcaraz, who admitted to struggling with his serve early on. “I started quite badly with the serve, I was struggling a little bit mentally with [it],” he reflected post-match. De Minaur, ranked World No. 7, seized the opportunity, breaking Alcaraz’s serve to take a 3-1 lead in the opening set. The Australian’s aggressive play and trademark speed kept the pressure on, forcing Alcaraz to dig deep. However, the two-time Barcelona champion (2022-23) showcased his resilience, leveling the score at 3-3 with a crucial break of his own. The set remained a tight affair, with both players trading blows until Alcaraz capitalized in the 12th game, clinching the set 7-5 with a decisive break.
In the second set, Alcaraz found his rhythm, his powerful groundstrokes and deft footwork overwhelming de Minaur. “It was just the first few games with my serve, then I think I improved a lot. I calmed myself down and started to think positively again,” Alcaraz noted, highlighting his ability to adapt under pressure. A single break in the sixth game proved enough, as he powered through to a 6-3 victory, showcasing the dominance that has made him virtually unbeatable on Spanish clay. His performance included 16 winners, though he battled through 34 unforced errors, a testament to his aggressive, high-risk style.
This victory marks Alcaraz’s fourth consecutive win over de Minaur, bringing their head-to-head record to 4-0. Their rivalry, which includes a memorable three-set epic in the 2022 Barcelona semifinals where Alcaraz saved two match points, underscores the Spaniard’s edge, particularly on clay. De Minaur, despite his strong clay-court form earlier this season, including a semifinal run in Monte-Carlo, struggled with six double faults and couldn’t match Alcaraz’s intensity. The Australian’s 48% first-serve rate and inability to convert key opportunities highlighted the challenge of facing Alcaraz on his favored surface.
Alcaraz’s triumph extends his clay-court winning streak to eight matches, following his recent title in Monte-Carlo. With 23 victories in 2025, he leads the ATP Tour in wins this year, surpassing de Minaur’s 22. His 36th career ATP semifinal appearance at such a young age speaks to his prodigious talent and unrelenting drive. “Alex started strong, playing aggressively, and the first set was really tight,” Alcaraz said, acknowledging his opponent’s tenacity while emphasizing his own ability to raise his level when it mattered most.
In the semifinals, Alcaraz will face France’s Arthur Fils, who advanced after Stefanos Tsitsipas retired in the third game of their quarterfinal match. Alcaraz holds a recent win over Fils from Monte-Carlo, but the 20-year-old Frenchman’s fearless style promises a compelling showdown. Meanwhile, the other half of the draw saw sixth seed Holger Rune deliver a commanding 6-4, 6-2 upset over defending champion Casper Ruud, setting up an intriguing semifinal clash with Karen Khachanov, who defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
As Alcaraz chases a third consecutive Barcelona title, his performance against de Minaur reaffirmed his prowess on clay and his hunger for more silverware. With his sights set on another deep run, the young Spaniard continues to captivate the tennis world, blending raw power with tactical brilliance. Fans eagerly await his next match, as he aims to maintain his perfect record in Barcelona and further solidify his legacy as one of the sport’s brightest stars.