Given that Carlos Alcaraz is out of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Lorenzo Musetti vs. Arthur Fils should really be the final.
Alas, Musetti and Fils will collide in the quarterfinals of this ATP 500 tournament on Friday afternoon. It marks their third meeting, with the head-to-head series all tied up at one win apiece. Musetti prevailed 6-3, 7-5 at the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters before Fils got the job done 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 at the 2025 Indian Wells Masters.
The rubber match should be a good one, because the surface favors Musetti but the edge in current form goes to Fils. As such, something has to give on Friday.
Prior to arriving in Barcelona, Musetti had not won a match since retiring in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with a leg injury while leading Novak Djokovic two sets to love. The ninth-ranked Italian missed almost two months and then lost right away in both Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo. He is finally getting back on track this week, earning a place in the last eight with defeats of Martin Landaluce and Corentin Moutet.
Fils’ own physical problems occurred in 2025, but he has returned from a back injury like gangbusters. The 30th-ranked Frenchman is 15-5 this season with a runner-up effort in Doha (lost to Alcaraz) and a brilliant Sunshine Double (quarterfinals in Indian Wells, semis in Miami). Showing no signs of slowing down on clay, Fils booked his spot in the Barcelona quarters by beating Terence Atmane in a third-set tiebreaker and Brandon Nakashima in straight sets.
Match toughness could be the difference on Friday. Musetti has not played an especially competitive contest since Melbourne. His Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo losses came in straight sets, while his wins over Landaluce and Moutet were routine. This showdown promises to be wildly entertaining and extremely close.
Fils, who has been winning matches left and right in recent months, should have the edge late.
Pick: Fils in 3