Spain is well represented in the Barcelona semifinals with Pablo Carreno Busta taking on Diego Schwartzman and Carlos Alcaraz battling Alex de Minaur. Alacaraz is aiming for his third title of the 2022 campaign.
(6) Diego Schwartzman vs. (8) Pablo Carreno Busta
In a rematch of the 2021 Barcelona quarterfinals, Diego Schwartzman will take on Spanish veteran Pablo Carreno Busta. Carreno Busta won that encounter in three hard-fought sets. He was match point down against Casper Ruud in their quarterfinal on Friday three times in the second set before clawing his way back for victory.
Schwartzman has had a good run in Barcelona. The Argentine dispatched Lorenzo Musetti in the third round and a struggling Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarters. Schwartzman has defeated Carreno Busta just once in their three meetings–back in 2017 at the indoor hard-court event in Vienna.
Both men are in strong form on the dirt right now, so this should be an entertaining match. Schwartzman will need his seemingly endless reserve of energy because Carreno Busta is going to make him work hard. Expect a typical, quality clay-court battle. There should be plenty of service breaks and long points to thrill the fans.
Cheryl pick: Carreno Busta in 3
Ricky pick: Schwartzman in 3
(5) Carlos Alcaraz vs. (10) Alex de Minaur
It would seem that Carlos Alcaraz just needs a match against Stefanos Tsitsipas to energize him. The Spaniard delighted the nighttime Spanish crowd by dispatching a surly Tsitsipas in three wild sets. Alcaraz nabbed the first set, but he lost his way a bit in the second. Between the second and third sets the teenager took a bathroom break and came back in the third on fire to take the match going away.
He will face Aussie Alex de Minaur on Saturday and it will be the first meeting for the two men. De Minaur has had a solid if slightly uneventful first half of the tennis season. The semifinal showing this week marks his best result of the year. De Minaur earned his spot in Saturday’s semi with wins over Ugo Humbert, Lloyd Harris, and Cameron Norrie.
Given the form Alcaraz found against Tsitsipas–and since he will be playing in front of appreciative home fans eager to get behind their countryman–this one should be a straightforward win for the favorite.
Cheryl pick: Alcaraz in 2
Ricky pick: Alcaraz in 2
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