Alcaraz admits feeling pressure amid Sinner absence: “It killed me”
The Spaniard was honest about his future goals, ahead of the European clay court season
Chryslene Caillaud / Psnewz
Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension from professional tennis sent shockwaves through the sport, however, it also opened a door for a select few players.
Not only would the Italian no longer be a threat on his beloved hard courts throughout Indian Wells and Miami, but those closest to him in the rankings had a greater opportunity to close to gap on the world No 1.
One of those players is Carlos Alcaraz, who is currently sitting 3610 points behind Sinner and 925 points behind world No 2 Alexander Zverev.
The Spaniard has had an unremarkable past two months, lifting the trophy at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, but falling in the quarter-final in Doha, the semi-finals in Indian Wells, and – most worryingly – in his opening match at the Miami Open.
“A lot of people are asking me, or are telling me, that I have the chance to become number one if Jannik isn’t playing,” stated Alcaraz, on the eve of his Monte Carlo campaign
“So probably that pressure has killed me in some way.”
probably that pressure has killed me in some way
As a result of that ‘pressure’, the four-time Grand Slam champion has admitted that the world No 1 spot is not a goal of his at the moment:
“I’m just thinking that I’m not able to become number one in the clay season, even if Jannik [Sinner] 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.”
The former No 1 has been subject to much scrutiny, despite winning two Grand Slam titles in 2024. Since his Wimbledon title last July, he has been unable to lift any silverware above ATP 500 level.
“A lot of people might have said I should have played better tennis or won more tournaments but I don’t think that is fair,” commented Alcaraz.
“I think the draw in every tournament is very open and a lot of players are playing good tennis and they deserve to be there. There are so many players who play well on clay and on all surfaces. (…) I see a lot of players who are capable of doing great things on clay.”
Alcaraz will face either Fabio Fognini – who win the Monte Carlo title in 2019 – or Francisco Cerundolo.
