“I’m just happy and ready to play well on clay”: Carlos Alcaraz addresses critics ahead of Monte-Carlo debut
Carlos Alcaraz is eager to make his debut at the Monte-Carlo Masters, expressing confidence in his game despite recent setbacks. The 4-time Grand Slam champion will compete in the first clay-court Masters 1000 of the season, aiming for his first title at this prestigious tournament.
After claiming his first indoor hard-court title in Rotterdam, the World No. 3 suffered unexpected defeats, including a quarterfinal loss to Jiri Lehecka at the Qatar Open and an early exit from the Indian Wells Open at the hands of Jack Draper. Perhaps the most shocking loss came at the Miami Open, where he was knocked out in the first round by World No. 55 David Goffin.
Despite the criticism that has followed these surprising results, Alcaraz remains upbeat. “I am really happy with the way I am playing,” he said in Monte-Carlo. “Since the start of the year, I’ve been playing great tennis.” The 21-year-old also acknowledged the rising level of competition. “Tennis is not just about hitting the ball. It’s about mentality, the physical side.”
Alcaraz added, “If I don’t win, it doesn’t matter if I play well or not. People often don’t consider the opponent and just focus on me. If I lose, they say something is wrong, but I don’t think that’s fair. I’m just happy and ready to play well on clay.”
The Spaniard highlighted that the level of competition on the ATP Tour is now more balanced than ever, making tournament results unpredictable. “A lot of players are playing good tennis, and the competition is very open,” he continued. “Many players are capable of doing great things on clay.”
Alcaraz’s sentiments are echoed by the emergence of new faces, like Jack Draper and Jakub Mensik, who have caused upsets at the Sunshine Double, even crowning first-time Masters 1000 champions. With the absence of Jannik Sinner from Monte-Carlo, many expected Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, or Novak Djokovic to dominate, but the competition remains fierce.
“The draw in every tournament is open. A lot of players are playing great tennis and deserve to be there,” Alcaraz said. “The clay season will be interesting — there are so many players who are strong on all surfaces.”
As Alcaraz prepares to make his mark at Monte-Carlo, all eyes are on his debut performance in the tournament.
