Tuesday was a day of action in all three venues of ATP tournaments being played this week. While first round matches were being processed in 250 events in Munich and Banja Luka, the biggest tournament of the week in Barcelona has started its secound round, where top seeded names made their first on-court appearances.
Carlos Alcaraz pleased the home crowd by succesful return after injury. The current world's number two has comfortably defeated Nuno Borges, winning 6-3 6-1 in just 64 minutes. Alcaraz sets up interesting all-Spanish match with Roberto Bautista Agut in next round, as the 34 years-old veteran won against another fellowcountry Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-2 6-2.
All the three seeded Spaniards made their job done today, as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Thomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3 6-3. The tournament's 10th seed will play against Emil Ruusuvuori next. The Finn plays a sensational tournament so far, as he reached out the round of 16 after upsetting the 5th seed Frances Tiafoe. The American, who won his last tournament in Houston, which was also played on clay, was a pre-match favorite with an odd 1.55. It was a great, almost 3-hours battle, consisted of a few plot twists. Tiafoe was very close to move up front in first set, while playing aggresively and producing breakpoint chances, but Ruusuvuori held his serve well and was the first to gain a break in 8th game. The world's number 40 did not serve for a set in following game, but regained advantage in crazy 10th game, utilizing 4th setpoint during Tiafoe's service game which was 4 deuces long. The American was leading comfortably in second set, being 5-2 up with double break advantage, but slipped it away, as Ruusuvuori came bak to force a tiebreak. Despite it, Tiafoe won it 7-3 and took the match into whole distance. Pre-match favorite was seemingly taking control of this battle, starting third set well by moving up to 3-0 lead with a break advantage. It could be practically over after the following game, as Ruusuvuori made a crucial hold, defending 4 breakpoints in 4th game. It kept this match alive, and the Finn followed the blow by making up the gap in following game, being leveled on serve back again. Ruusuvuori broke his favorized opponent another time in 9th game and succesfully served for the victory a game later. It was possibly one of the greatest matches in the career of best Finnish player, who has already reached out the quarterfinals in Miami this year. The win over Tiafoe followed another valuable result, as Ruusuvuori crushed Alexander Bublik 6-0 6-3 in one of the most interesting match-ups of the opening round.
Casper Ruud bounced back after his early exit in Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, as the Norwegian prevailed in exciting clash against Ben Shelton. Tournament's third seed won over the American 6-2 7-6(1).
Two Spanish veterans have highlighted the Tuesday's action in Barcelona, appearing in the matches which were complementing the opening round. They did so with varying degrees of success, as Fernando Verdasco lost very easily, being defeated by the player ranked 125th in ATP list, Francesco Passaro with a score 6-1 6-1. Feliciano Lopez showed up much better, being an equal opponent to David Goffin. The Belgian lives a big slump of his career right now, being down to 99th place in ATP rankings. 41 years-old Lopez was able to took the match against Goffin into whole distance after two sets ended up in tiebreaks. Deciding one went on favour of the obvious pre-match favourite, as Goffin did not give away any single game for his super experienced opponent and won it 7-6(3) 6-7(4) 6-0 eventually. Hats off for the Spaniard despite being defeated, as Lopez showed some signs of his class there.
Here are the Tuesday's highlights from Barcelona:
