Carlos Alcaraz has started the clay court season on a positive note, winning his sixth Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo. However, despite that impressive run, Alcaraz had a shaky start to his campaign in Barcelona. But somehow he managed to steady his ship in his first match! Can he keep his winning run intact on the clay court? Well, American tennis legend John Isner recently made a bold prediction about the Spaniard, saying he sees Alcaraz building momentum before the French Open by winning two of three events (Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome) in the next weeks. The 21-year-old is now aiming for a third title triumph on the clay in Barcelona after lifting the trophy in 2022 and 2023. He’s now all set to face another clay court specialist, Laslo Djere, in the second round (R16) of the Barcelona Open. Can Alcaraz beat the Serbian in his next match and move closer to clinching his third title of the season?
Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere: Preview
Before this, Carlos Alcaraz had played six tournaments this season and won two out of them (Rotterdam, Monte Carlo). He defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters by 3-6,6-1,6-0. But he was nowhere near his best in the opening round of the 2025 Barcelona Open. The two-time champion came back from a breakdown in the second set to defeat America’s Ethan Quinn in the previous match by 6-2,7-6(6). Alcaraz couldn’t take part in this tournament last year due to an injury, but he’s now happy to get a winning start on his home soil. “Last year it was very painful not to be here, so I am very happy to be able to come back and play here again, and more so to win.”
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – May 22, 2022 Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz Garfia in action during his first round match against Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero REUTERS/Yves Herman
On the other hand, the 29-year-old Serbian, Laslo Djere’s best result of this season was winning the title in Santiago, where he outshone Argentina’s Sebastian Baez by 6- 4, 3-6,7-5. Apart from that, Djere also reached the SF at the Argentina Open this year. However, he struggled a bit during the start of the European clay court swing, losing in the first round in Marrakech, and then he also failed to qualify for the main draw in Monte Carlo. However, Djere is currently on a three-match winning streak in Barcelona. He defeated the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech by 6(2)-7,6-1,6-2 in the R32. Can he now stop the world number 2?
Alcaraz vs Djere: Head-to-Head
Fasten your seatbelts for the clash of two clay-court specialists at the Pista Rafa Nadal! Carlos Alcaraz has faced Laslo Djere only once in his career so far, and guess what? The Serb managed to win a set that time, but Alcaraz had the last laugh. So, currently, their H2H record is 1-0 in favor of the Spaniard.
2023 Buenos Aires R16: Alcaraz 6-2,4-6,6-2.
Prediction: Alcaraz will win this match in straight sets
Although the Serbian managed to throw up a strong challenge against the Spaniard last time, this time I’m expecting in-form Carlitos to wrap up the match pretty swiftly. Carlos Alcaraz has a phenomenal record on clay courts with an 83% win rate on this surface. He has 9 titles on clay (including two in Barcelona). Currently, he has a win-loss record of 22-5, 6-0 on clay. The 2024 French Open champion has already managed to dethrone Jannik Sinner in the ATP Race, now he’ll be eyeing to build some momentum before heading to the bigger challenge of defending his title at Roland Garros.
On the other hand, clay has also been the best surface for Laslo Djere. He has reached 5 finals on the surface, winning three titles (including the one in Santiago this year). Djere (80) has slipped down a bit in the rankings in the last few years, and if we take a look at his numbers, he has an overall win-loss record of 17-6 this season, with 14-3 on clay (according to Tennis Tonic).
Considering their playing styles and experience in playing bigger matches, top seed Alcaraz looks like the favorite to win this epic battle. Laslo Djere plays a structured, consistent clay-court game with heavy topspin and long rallies. He is a solid baseliner and has a strong forehand. The slower surface allows him more time for his shots, and his movement on clay is crisp and natural. Djere is more ‘like a fish in the water’ when it comes to clay courts!
However, outclassing Carlos Alcaraz on the dirt is perhaps one of the biggest challenges for any player. Alcaraz is known for his aggressive, baseline-oriented style of play, characterized by powerful, spin-heavy groundstrokes, particularly on the forehand, and a versatile drop shot. He is also known for his exceptional athleticism, quick footwork, and unwavering defensive capabilities. Alcaraz loves to build points with his forehand, using it to attack an opponent’s backhand and then pounce on any subpar shot he can get. Considering all these and the form he has been in the last few tournaments, I don’t think Carlitos will allow Djere to win even a set this time.
The post Barcelona Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz vs Laslo Djere; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction appeared first on EssentiallySports.