Carlos Alcaraz admits pressure to take Jannik Sinner’s No. 1 ranking ‘killed’ him
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Carlos Alcaraz believes that the pressure to become world No. 1 has had a negative impact on his form this season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MONTE CARLO – Carlos Alcaraz admitted that the pressure to reclaim tennis’ world No. 1 ranking from the suspended Jannik Sinner has had a negative impact on his form this season.
The Spaniard is currently ranked third, behind Italian star Sinner and Alexander Zverev of Germany.
“A lot of people are asking me, or are telling me, that I have the chance to become No. 1 if Jannik is not playing. So probably that pressure has killed me in some way,” Alcaraz said at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The 21-year-old added that staying at world No. 3 has not come as a shock to him as he has not been playing well.
“I’m not surprised because the people always say that we have to win the tournaments or the top people have to be there all the time playing finals or winning tournaments,” he added.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has endured a tough start to 2025, with his only title coming on the hard courts of Rotterdam in February. But the 1000 event in Monte Carlo signals the start of the clay-court season – a surface Alcaraz has excelled on.
He won the French Open last season, as well as back-to-back Madrid Masters crowns in 2022 and 2023.
Sinner, who has been out of action since accepting a three-month doping ban in February after twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March 2024, is due to return in time for the Rome Open in May.
Alcaraz also said he is at peace with not usurping the Italian as the world’s best player.
“I’m just thinking that I’m not able to become No. 1... in the clay season, even if Jannik is not playing, I don’t have the chance to do it. I think I’m too far from Jannik. So I’m just here and I realise that I don’t have to think about it and just go there and play. That’s my mindset right now,” he said.
After being eliminated on his debut in 2022 and withdrawing from the last two editions, Alcaraz has yet to win a match on the Monte Carlo clay.
Given a bye for the first round, he will seek to end that streak when he takes on the winner of the round-of-64 match between Francisco Cerundolo and Fabio Fognini.
World No. 5 Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, said reaching his first final of the season at the Miami Open helped him find the motivation to continue his quest for more titles as the 37-year-old looks to win his 100th ATP trophy.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has not won a title on the men’s tour since his ATP Finals triumph during an extraordinary 2023, although he bagged the Olympic gold medal during the Paris Games in 2024.
Djokovic’s bid to join Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) as the only men in the professional era to claim 100 or more ATP trophies ended in a defeat by Jakub Mensik last week.
“There’s no doubt it has become more difficult throughout my career but the performances in Miami, when I’m playing that way, it gives me more inspiration to keep going,” the Serb said.
“It just feels great on the court when you’re striking the ball well and winning matches.
“I’m glad in Miami I found that joy on the court and performance levels, so let’s see if I can carry that into clay. It’s a different surface and I’ve not had much time to get used to this tournament so my expectations aren’t that high.”
In women’s tennis, top seed Jessica Pegula overcame Sofia Kenin 6-3, 7-5 to win the Charleston Open on April 6 in the first all-American final at the tournament since 1990.
World No. 3 Pegula, fresh off her Miami Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka, adapted seamlessly to the green clay surface, securing her second singles title of the season and eighth of her career. AFP, REUTERS
