ATP Barcelona, Carlos Alcaraz in semifinals.

Spain’s Carlos Alacaraz, who has just returned to world No. 2 behind Jannik Sinner after his triumph in Monte Carlo, advanced to the semifinals of the ATP 500 in Barcelona by beating Australian Alex De Minaur, who has just risen to No. 7, 7-5 6-3.

In the first set De Minaur goes twicew aanti of a break, first at 3-1 and then at 4-3, but both times he is taken back, and then it is Alcaraz, at 6-5 in his favor, who makes the decisive stretch to win the partial.

Only one break in the second set, and to do so, when leading 3-2, is Carlitos, who from 2-2 wins three consecutive games and then closes on the second match point. The 21-year-old Murcian will now face rancese Arthur Fils, whom he has already beaten in Monte Carlo though with difficulty.