Carlos Alcaraz eases into Barcelona Open final showdown with Stefanos Tsitsipas

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz swept past Dan Evans 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday to set up a Barcelona Open final clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The Greek second seed earlier defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the final for the third time.

World No 2 Alcaraz beat Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals in Barcelona last year in three sets in what was the Spaniard's third win in three meetings against the Greek.

"I feel really comfortable playing here in Barcelona and (I'm) playing well," said Alcaraz, who has not dropped a set in the tournament this year.

"Stefanos is playing great matches as well. Last year we had a spicy match, let's say.

"I know he's a really nice guy off the court, so I'm going to try to forget everything that has happened in the matches before, try to focus on my game tomorrow, and try to get the win."

Alcaraz missed the Monte Carlo Masters last week because of hand and back problems and has not been at his most consistent on his way to the final.

An easy win over Nuno Borges was followed by trickier triumphs against Spanish compatriots Roberto Bautista Agut and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Chasing down his third title of the season after triumphs at Buenos Aires and Indian Wells, home favourite Alcaraz started impressively.

The 19-year-old top seed won the first game without dropping a point, sealing it with an ace, ominously for Evans, who was pulled all over the court.

Alcaraz broke for a 3-1 lead and the 2022 US Open champion showed little mercy from then on, winning six consecutive games before Evans broke for the first time, to trail 4-1 in the second set.

Alcaraz clinched victory after an hour and 20 minutes with another pinpoint winner past Evans.

Tsitsipas lost on both occasions he reached