Former American tennis player John Isner recently voiced his support for Carlos Alcaraz’s clay-court campaign, predicting that the 21-year-old Spaniard will win two out of the three upcoming tournaments in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome. Alcaraz is currently aiming to secure a historic third consecutive title at the Barcelona Open and began his clay season with a Masters 1000 title win in Monte Carlo.
Despite a somewhat sluggish start in Barcelona, Alcaraz managed to pull through his first match, recovering from a setback in the second set to defeat American Ethan Quinn 6-2, 7-6(6). He now prepares to face Serbian clay-court specialist Laslo Djere in the round of 16.
Leading into Barcelona, Alcaraz had participated in six tournaments this season and claimed titles in both Rotterdam and Monte Carlo. His recent Monte Carlo win saw him overcome Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in a comeback victory: 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. Alcaraz missed last year’s Barcelona Open due to injury and expressed his joy at being able to return and compete again on home soil.
Laslo Djere, a 29-year-old from Serbia, is also enjoying a solid run. He won a title earlier this year in Santiago, defeating Sebastian Baez in a tight three-set final. Djere also reached the semifinals of the Argentina Open but struggled to find form in the initial stages of the European clay-court season. He exited early in Marrakech and failed to qualify for Monte Carlo. However, Djere has gained momentum in Barcelona, stringing together three straight wins, including a victory over Arthur Rinderknech in the previous round: 6(2)-7, 6-1, 6-2.
Alcaraz and Djere have faced each other once before, in the 2023 Buenos Aires Open. Alcaraz emerged victorious in that match, though Djere did manage to take a set. Their head-to-head record currently stands at 1-0 in Alcaraz’s favor.
Alcaraz’s record on clay is outstanding, with an 83% win rate and nine titles on the surface—two of which are in Barcelona. So far this season, he holds a 22-5 win-loss record, including an unbeaten 6-0 on clay. Djere, too, is at his best on clay, having reached five finals and won three titles on the surface. This season, he boasts a 17-6 overall record, with 14 of those wins on clay.
Djere’s game is well-suited for clay courts. He uses heavy topspin, excels in long rallies, and is a consistent baseliner with a solid forehand. His movement on clay is natural and effective. Alcaraz, on the other hand, plays an aggressive game from the baseline, using powerful topspin groundstrokes, especially on his forehand. He frequently incorporates his well-known drop shots and is also praised for his quick footwork and strong defensive play.
Given his current form and overall dominance on clay, many expect Alcaraz to defeat Djere in straight sets and continue his strong run toward a third Barcelona Open title.