Ruud and Tsitsipas Aim to Regain Form at Barcelona Open

BARCELONA, Spain — Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas started their campaigns at the Barcelona Open on Tuesday, looking to reclaim their momentum after disappointing performances at the Monte Carlo Masters. Both players are eager to reverse their rankings slides as they prepare for the French Open.

Ruud, the defending champion in Barcelona, rebounded from a tough week in Monte Carlo where he failed to convert two match points during a round-of-16 exit to Alexei Popyrin. He faced qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan in the first round in Barcelona, achieving a solid 6-4, 6-3 victory without facing a single break point.

After his win, Ruud reflected on the importance of this week: “It’s crucial for me to perform well here, especially with the French Open approaching. I need to rebuild confidence.” Currently ranked No. 10, another early exit could drop him out of the Top 15.

Next, Ruud will face Hamad Medjedovic, aiming to continue his quest for redemption on clay.

Tsitsipas, who recently dropped eight spots in the rankings to No. 16, also struggled in Monte Carlo, losing to Lorenzo Musetti after winning their previous five encounters. The 26-year-old Greek started strong in Barcelona, defeating Reilly Opelka 6-2, 6-2, and set his sights on a quarterfinal match against Sebastian Korda.

“I felt much more comfortable today. It’s important I find my rhythm again, especially as we head towards Roland Garros,” said Tsitsipas after his victory.

The draw sets Ruud and Tsitsipas on a collision course for the quarterfinals, with Ruud slated to face sixth-seeded Holger Rune and Tsitsipas expected to meet seventh seed Arthur Fils.

As both players push to gain crucial ranking points at this ATP 500 event, all eyes will be on their performances to gauge their readiness for the challenges ahead.