Norrie Exits Barcelona Open as Alcaraz Survives Quinn Challenge

British number three Cameron Norrie suffered a disappointing first-round defeat at the Barcelona Open, falling to Russia’s Karen Khachanov in a three-set battle as players ramp up preparations for the upcoming French Open.

Norrie, who entered the main draw via qualifiers and is now ranked 88th in the world, took the first set in a tie-break before losing momentum. Khachanov, currently ranked 27th, fought back to win 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-3 in just over two hours. The Russian will next face Spain’s Jaume Munar.

Norrie, 29, briefly looked in control after saving a set point in the opener and breaking Khachanov to lead 4-3 in the second. However, the former Wimbledon semi-finalist couldn’t maintain his edge as Khachanov turned the match around with consistent baseline play and powerful serving.

Alcaraz Tested by Quinn in Straight-Sets Win

Earlier in the day, Carlos Alcaraz was pushed to the limit by American Ethan Quinn, ranked 126th, before advancing to the last 16. The world number two overcame a tough second set to win 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).

The 21-year-old Spaniard dominated the opening set, saving five break points and converting two of his own. But Quinn responded with resilience in the second, breaking Alcaraz and forcing a tie-break, where he held a set point before Alcaraz edged through.

“I made some mistakes, I found it hard to maintain my level, but I am happy to have solved the problems that came in the second set,” Alcaraz told TVE. “In the end, I’m happy to win in two sets.”

Alcaraz is seeking to defend his Roland Garros title next month and is coming off a strong showing at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he also claimed victory on clay.

Ruud and Tsitsipas Cruise Through

Meanwhile, defending Barcelona champion Casper Ruud advanced smoothly with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan. The Norwegian world number 10 struck 25 winners and didn’t face a single set point, moving confidently into the last 16 despite not yet winning a title in 2025.

Last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas also made light work of his opponent, dispatching Reilly Opelka 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display. The world number 16 is aiming to regain form during the clay court season after an uneven start to the year.

With Roland Garros looming, top contenders like Alcaraz, Ruud, and Tsitsipas are finding their rhythm on clay, while others—like Norrie—face early exits and the need to regroup before the season’s second Grand Slam.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for full ATP clay season coverage and in-depth analysis ahead of the French Open.