Ethan Quinn Faces Alcaraz in Barcelona After Breakthrough Season

BARCELONA, Spain — Ethan Quinn, the rising American tennis star, is set to face former World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Tuesday, marking a significant moment in his young career.

After qualifying for the tournament with a thrilling comeback victory against former World No. 12, Quinn texted his coach Brian Garber asking for details about his first round opponent. “I said that, and he said, ‘No, but seriously, who do I play?’” Garber recounted, laughing. “And I said, ‘Yeah, no, you play Carlos.’”

While many players might feel daunted by the prospect of taking on a four-time Grand Slam champion, Quinn sees it as an opportunity. “It was funny because two days ago we said, ‘If you qualify, when the draw comes out, we know you’re going to play Carlos,’ so we almost manifested it happening,” explained Garber. “I actually think he’s pretty pumped about it.”

This match represents a milestone in Quinn’s career, following a season that saw him break into the ATP rankings. The 21-year-old has spent the past year adjusting to professional tennis after winning the 2023 NCAA singles championship as a freshman at the University of Georgia. Transitioning from college to the pros has introduced new challenges and elevated competition.

Quinn turned professional in June 2023, under the guidance of renowned coach Brad Stine, but his early results were mixed, as he lost three out of four matches in his debut season. “Everybody’s timeline is different, and I think that he got in that tough situation of what did the year before,” Garber said, reflecting on the pressure Quinn faced. “In juniors, he was a late bloomer… he won NCAAs, which was a crazy run.”

Quinn began to find success on the ATP Challenger Tour, culminating in a title win in Champaign while not losing a set. “Each time that we got over a miniature hump, there was another one to come,” Garber observed. “It’s learning how to manage successes and failures.”

A major turning point occurred in August when Quinn struggled in a match that Garber labeled “one of his worst performances of the year.” This prompted the introduction of a mental coach to assist with the mental aspects of the game. “He’s done a phenomenal job. Ethan’s bought into that,” Garber said, emphasizing the importance of mental preparation. “Expecting everything to be perfect is setting you up for failure.”

Quinn now ranks No. 118 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, capitalizing on recent back-to-back victories in Barcelona. Garber praised Quinn’s skills, noting, “He is a very dangerous player… the forehand is one of the biggest forehands in the world, you’ll see.”

Despite the immense challenge posed by Alcaraz, Quinn approaches the match with optimism and excitement, viewing it as an “earned opportunity.” Garber, who has been coaching Quinn since 2023, believes this matchup is critical for the player’s development. “Believe me, there will still be suffering ahead, but he’s coming into his own now,” Garber stated.