Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas sail into Barcelona Open quarter-finals

Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas both won in straight-sets as they secured quarter-final spots at the Barcelona Open on Thursday.

Spaniard Alcarez was made to battle by countryman Roberto Bautista before coming out on top 6-3, 7-5, while Greece's Tsitsipas eased past Denis Shapovalov of Canada 6-3, 6-2.

The world No 2 pulled out of the recent Monte Carlo Masters with back and hand problems but brushed aside Nuno Borges with ease in the previous round in Catalonia.

Bautista, though, proved a tougher nut to crack amid windy conditions as top seed Alcaraz continued his title defence on the court named after Rafael Nadal.

“I'm very happy to go through to the next round, it was a very difficult game,” said the 19-year-old, who will now face another Spaniard in 10th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Friday.

“Everyone knows the capacity Roberto has, how tough he is, and it wasn't easy at all with the wind.

“We say that games like this you have to win with professionalism and hard work. It was very hard to play at the best level, for Roberto too, I'm sure.”

In a heavy-hitting clash, second seed Tsitsipas saved both break points he faced and hit his groundstrokes with weight on the Barcelona clay.

Carlost for words