Carlos Alcaraz: From falling down the stairs at Barcelona Open, world No. 2 aims for first title defence

Carlos Alcaraz has already accomplished many things in his career. He’s got to world No. 1.

He’s won a Grand Slam. He’s won titles at every level. He’s beaten both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Ad He is yet, though, to defend a title. ATP BarcelonaAlcaraz doesn't 'feel like more of a favourite' in Barcelona despite Nadal absenceA DAY AGO Twice he has lost the final as defending champion, once in the semis. At this week’s Barcelona Open he will have a fourth chance to tick that off his to-do list.

Alcaraz won the tournament in impressive fashion a year ago, taking out top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals and then winning the semi-final and final in the same day following rain delays. He starts as the strong favourite to win the title this week, especially with 12-time champion Rafael Nadal not playing as he continues to recover from injury. World No.

1 Novak Djokovic is also not in the field as he plays instead in Bosnia & Herzegovina, so Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud and Jannik Sinner will be the top seeds behind Alcaraz. Sinner has twice previously foiled Alcaraz’s bid to defend a title for the first time. Sinner got the better of Alcaraz in the Croatia Open final in Umag last year as he won 6-7(5) 6-1 6-1, and then ended his title defence at the Miami Open last month with a 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2 win in the semi-finals.

With their head-to-head record locked at 3-3, Sinner, who made the semis in Monte Carlo last week, could be the biggest threat to Alcaraz in Barcelona. Alcaraz’s only other opportunity to defend a title was in Rio de Janeiro in February. Alcaraz was bidding to win back-to-back tournaments but having beaten Cameron Norrie in the Buenos Aires final the previous week, he then lost to the British No.