Norrie knocked out in Barcelona but Alcaraz through after battle

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Cameron Norrie was knocked out in the first round of the Barcelona Open but Carlos Alcaraz progressed after a second-set battle as he targets back-to-back ATP Tour titles.

Norrie, who came through qualifying to reach the main draw in Spain, won the first set against Karen Khachanov and then led 4-3 with a break in the second, before falling to a 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-3 defeat.

The Brit lost in qualifying for last week's Monte-Carlo Masters and has not won a main-draw match since reaching round three at Indian Wells in early March, an event won by compatriot Jack Draper.

Alcaraz made to work by American qualifier

Monte-Carlo Masters champion Alcaraz reached the second round as he extended his winning streak to six matches with a 6-2 7-6 (8-6) victory over American qualifier Ethan Quinn.

Carlos Alcaraz, Barcelona Open (Associated Press)

Image: Carlos Alcaraz won the Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday

Alcaraz - who beat Lorenzo Musetti in Monte Carlo on Sunday to secure his sixth ATP 1000 title and first in that tournament - broke Quinn twice in the first set but found things tougher in the second.

The Spaniard slipped 3-1 down and then had to fend off a set point in the tie-break before he rubberstamped a last-16 meeting with Laslo Djere as he pushes for a third Barcelona Open title, after successive victories in 2022 and 2023.

Alcaraz missed the 2024 edition due to injury, with Casper Ruud winning instead.

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Highlights of Alcaraz's straight-sets win over American qualifier Ethan Quinn in Barcelona

Ruud through as De Minaur clinches Fearnley showdown

Ruud and third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas - the player Ruud overcame in last year's final - also progressed in straight sets on Tuesday, seeing off Daniel Elahi Galan 6-4 6-3 and Reilly Opelka 6-2 6-2 respectively.

Fifth seed Alex de Minaur did not drop a set either as he beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4 6-4 to secure a last-16 showdown with Britain's Jacob Fearnley on Thursday.

Jacob Fearnley (Getty Images)

Image: Jacob Fearnley plays Alex de Minaur in the last 16 on Thursday

However, ninth seed Frances Tiafoe was defeated 2-6 7-5 6-1 by unseeded Spaniard Jaune Munar, a week after losing in the second round at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

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