Carlos Alcaraz Admits Pressure to Reach World No.1 Took a Toll on His Season
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about the psychological burden he has faced this season in his pursuit of the ATP world No.1 ranking. During a press conference ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 tournament, the 21-year-old candidly admitted that the pressure to overtake Italy’s Jannik Sinner at the top of the rankings has negatively affected both his mindset and performance on the court.
.jpeg)
“Many people kept telling me I had a chance to become the number one player because Jannik isn’t playing right now,” said Alcaraz. “That pressure has probably killed me in some way.”
Alcaraz’s comments come during what has been a rocky start to his 2025 season. Despite his immense talent and previous successes — including four Grand Slam titles — the young Spaniard has only managed to win one title so far this year. That victory came two months ago on hard courts at the Rotterdam tournament. Since then, he has struggled to regain consistent form, and the weight of expectations seems to have taken its toll.
Currently ranked third in the ATP standings, Alcaraz trails the 23-year-old Sinner by 3,610 points. Despite Sinner’s absence from the tour due to a suspension, Alcaraz said he has come to terms with the reality that the No.1 spot may be out of reach for now.
“I’m okay with the idea that I won’t be able to reach the top ranking, even during the clay season,” Alcaraz explained. “Even with Jannik not playing, I realize I’m still too far behind. So I’m trying to stop thinking about that and just focus on playing my game. That’s my mindset now.”
Sinner, who had been on an incredible run of form with 21 consecutive wins — the longest unbeaten streak on the ATP tour since Novak Djokovic’s dominance two years ago — was suspended after twice testing positive for the banned substance Clostebol. He reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that will see him return to the tour on May 4, just in time for the Rome Masters 1000 tournament. His absence has caused him to miss several key events, including Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid — yet he remains firmly in control of the top ranking due to the significant points gap.
For Alcaraz, the Monte Carlo Masters marks more than just another tournament — it represents a potential turning point in his season. The event kicks off the clay court swing, which is widely considered his strongest part of the calendar. Alcaraz has already proven his prowess on clay, having won the French Open (Roland Garros) last year and back-to-back titles at the Madrid Masters in 2022 and 2023.
This year’s Monte Carlo appearance could be especially significant, as Alcaraz looks to record his first-ever win at the event. In his 2022 debut, he was eliminated in the second round and had to withdraw from the tournament in both 2023 and 2024. As a seeded player this time, he will begin his campaign in the second round, facing the winner of the match between Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo and Italy’s Fabio Fognini.
With the weight of expectations somewhat lifted and the comfort of his favorite surface beneath his feet, Alcaraz is hoping to reset his season and rediscover the confidence that made him one of the most exciting talents in modern tennis.
0 comments:
Post a Comment