Barcelona R3 previews and predictions: Alcaraz vs. Munar, Schwartzman vs. Musetti

Carlos Alcaraz continues his campaign in Barcelona against fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar on Thursday afternoon. Diego Schwartzman will also be in third-round action against fellow clay-court lover Lorenzo Musetti.

(5) Carlos Alcaraz vs. (WC) Jaume Munar

Carlos Alcaraz has taken the 2022 tennis season by storm. He already has two titles, including his first Masters in Miami at the end of March. He hasn’t yet found his footing on European clay. Alcaraz lost his opening match in Monte-Carlo last week and dropped a set to Soonwoo Kwon in his first round this week.

Alcaraz has a match win over Jaume Munar already this season on the dirt in Rio de Janeiro, but Munar took a set. Munar is ranked 101st in the world, but he’s playing better than his ranking suggests right now. He won the Challenger event in Marbella a few weeks ago.

Although both men are Spanish, Alcaraz will have the backing of the crowd. He is the new star of Spanish tennis, poised to take over the mantel that Rafael Nadal has held for a couple of decades. Even with his European clay legs not quite under him just yet, expect Alcaraz to advance to the quarters.

Cheryl pick: Alcaraz in 2

Ricky pick: Alcaraz in 2

(6) Diego Schwartzman vs. Lorenzo Musetti

This is the second match in as many weeks between Diego Schwartzman and Lorenzo Musetti. The two men met in Monte-Carlo, where Schwartzman won in three. With both men playing well, Thursday’s rematch has the makings of another three-setter.

Musetti is a streaky player, as evidenced by his No. 68 ranking, but he’s a more than capable clay-courter. He produced something of a breakthrough last year at Roland Garros, where he made the round of 16 (ended up retiring in the fifth set against eventual champion Novak Djokovic). Since then his results have been spotty, but he has looked good on European clay so far.

Schwartzman came within a hairsbreadth of defeating Monte-Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals last week. It was an impressive tournament overall, but he played a lot of tennis in the process. The Argentine is as fit as a player gets, but it’s possible fatigue will play a factor in Barcelona.

This one should be entertaining, but Schwartzman should have enough to get past Musetti for a second time.

Cheryl pick: Schwartzman in 3

Ricky pick: Musetti in 3