In February, during an interview, Australia’s Alex de Minaur admitted that Carlos Alcaraz is a very difficult opponent to handle, but he also mentioned that he feels the Spaniard is a better matchup for him than Jannik Sinner. “I feel, in ways, I can rush him a little bit; I can pin him and hurt him, and make his life uncomfortable,” he said. Fast forward two months, and he’s now all set to face Alcaraz for the second time this season!

Alcaraz has been in red-hot form of late. The 21-year-old is currently on a seven-match winning streak. Can the two-time champion (2022,2023) extend his winning streak with a win against De Minaur in the QF of the 2025 Barcelona Open, or are we going to witness the Aussie making this a bit “uncomfortable” for Alcaraz on his home soil?

Carlos Alcaraz vs Alex de Minaur: Preview

Carlos Alcaraz has already won two titles this year (Rotterdam and Monte Carlo), and this is his sixth QF appearance in seven tournaments. Can he book a spot in the SF in Barcelona? Carlitos got off to a flying start in this tournament with a 6-2,7-6(6) triumph over America’s Ethan Quinn in the R32, and then in the next round, he outclassed Serbia’s Laslo Djere by 6-2,6-4 in blustery conditions. Following this emphatic victory, the Spaniard said, “I think as much as I can win in straight sets, it’s much better to save energy for the matches that I have coming forward. I think I played great tennis, even better than the first round, even though I had to come back from 4-2 in the second set.“

Alex de Minaur, on the other hand, raced past the lucky loser Jacob Fearnley by 6-1,6-2 in just 62 minutes in the R16. With this win, he has now entered his 50th tour-level QF. De Minaur is now only the third man born in 1999 or later to achieve this feat. Since the start of the 2023 season, he has boasted the most wins at the ATP 500 level.

De Minaur’s best record this season was reaching the final at the Rotterdam Open. Just like Alcaraz, the Aussie has been quite impressive on the clay. Before this tournament, he reached the SF in Monte Carlo as well. So fasten your seatbelts for a blockbuster QF clash in Barcelona!

Alcaraz vs De Minaur: Head-to-Head

This will be the fourth time that Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur will be locking horns on the Tour. Currently, Alcaraz leads the H2H by a 3-0 margin (1-0 on clay). This will also be their second meeting in Barcelona.

• 2025 Rotterdam Final: Alcaraz 6-4,3-6,6-2.
• 2023 London/Queen’s Club Final: Alcaraz 6-4,6-4.
• 2022 Barcelona SF: Alcaraz 6(4)-7,7-6(4),6-4.

Prediction: Alcaraz will win this match in three sets

Beating Carlos Alcaraz (2) on the clay court will not be easy! The 2024 French Open champion has a 27-1 record on Spanish clay courts since the start of the 2022 season, including 12-0 in Barcelona. Alcaraz was unable to defend his title here last season due to a right arm injury, so this year he’ll be keen to showcase his dominance at this venue again. The four-time Grand Slam champion currently has a win-loss record of 22-4 this season, 7-0 on clay. On the other hand, Alex de Minaur (7) has recorded 22-7, with 5-1 on clay.

Looking at these numbers and looking at Alcaraz’s sheer dominance over the Aussie in the H2H record, the Spaniard has an edge over the ‘Demon’ in this epic duel. But De Minaur is expected to put up a strong fight in this match. He has not dropped a set yet in the tournament, just like Alcaraz.

De Minaur is known for his defensive, counter-punching style, built on speed, agility, and court coverage. He is a ‘speed demon’ on the court, often retrieving impossible shots and forcing errors out of his opponents. Although his forehand is more powerful, he relies on his defensive skills and quick footwork to wear down his opponents. His backhand is more conventional, and he can hit it equally well cross-court or down the line. He’s also comfortable with volleying and occasionally comes to the net when he has the advantage in a rally. However, the lack of firepower in his game is widely considered his most obvious weakness.

On the other side, Carlos Alcaraz is known for his aggressive, all-court style of play characterized by powerful groundstrokes, a strong forehand, and a versatile game that includes volleys and drop shots. He is also known for his exceptional speed and court coverage, allowing him to transition effectively from defense to offense.

Other than that, Alcaraz also loves to build points with his forehand, using it to attack an opponent’s backhand and then pounce on any subpar shot he can get. His powerful, spin-heavy shots and ability to dictate play make him a nightmare opponent, especially on this surface. 

So, while De Minaur might force this match into the third set, Alcaraz has all the class in the world to outshine the ‘Demon.’ The prediction is for Alcaraz to win the match in three sets and advance to the semis.