Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Barcelona match.
Carlos Alcaraz steps onto the court not only as the top seed but also as a two-time champion at the Barcelona Open. After clinching the title in Monte Carlo, he now has an excellent opportunity to secure a clay-court double early in the season. For Laslo Djere, this is a chance to make an impression — the Serbian came through qualifying and has already defeated Arthur Rinderknech. Facing Carlos Alcaraz offers a rare opportunity to test himself against top-level competition on a major stage and demonstrate his capabilities against elite opposition.
Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz has proven to be extremely effective on clay, holding an 83% win rate and nine titles on the surface, including Roland Garros and two Barcelona trophies. He began his clay season with a title at the Monte Carlo Masters, although he did not face any top-10 opponents throughout the event. In his first match in Barcelona against Ethan Quinn, Alcaraz started strong with a 6:2 opening set but struggled in the second, surrendering three breaks before narrowly edging it 7:6. Over the course of the match, he recorded 26 unforced errors and won just 65% of points behind his first serve.
Laslo Djere
Djere is a seasoned clay-court competitor who has already lifted a title in Santiago in 2025 and reached the semi-finals in Buenos Aires. He has won 14 of his 17 matches on clay this season. In Barcelona, Djere came through qualifying and delivered a convincing performance in the first round against Arthur Rinderknech, winning 6:7, 6:1, 6:2. Across his three matches at the tournament so far, he has averaged a 73% success rate on first-serve points and hit 11 aces.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere Prediction
Despite Carlos Alcaraz’s credentials, this match may be more competitive than expected. Laslo Djere is a confident clay-court performer, match-fit from the qualifiers, and already well-adapted to the surface. While Alcaraz claimed victory in their previous encounter, it was a closely contested affair in which his serve showed signs of vulnerability. In their 2022 meeting, Djere managed to take a set and remained competitive throughout (2:6, 6:4, 2:6). This upcoming clash is unlikely to be one-sided, and Laslo Djere is expected to win at least eight games.
