Carlos Alcaraz Responds to “Unfair” Claims About His Recent Losses Ahead of Monte-Carlo Masters
Carlos Alcaraz has responded to recent criticisms suggesting that he should have seized more titles during Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension. Both Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev had opportunities to close the gap in the rankings and challenge for the No. 1 spot while Sinner was sidelined. However, both players have faced unexpected early exits in recent weeks.
Alcaraz, speaking ahead of the Monte-Carlo Masters, expressed frustration with the pressure to perform during Sinner’s absence, calling it “unfair” for fans to expect him to win everything.
“A lot of people probably thought that with Jannik not there, we should have played better or won more tournaments,” said Alcaraz. “But I don’t think that’s fair. The competition is tough, and there are many great players who deserve to win as well.”
Despite the setbacks, Alcaraz is trying to shift his focus away from the rankings. He acknowledged that the pressure to regain the No. 1 position affected his performance.
“People always expect the top players to win tournaments or always be in finals,” he added. “I’m not surprised by the expectations, but yeah, the pressure of possibly becoming No. 1 has affected me in some way.”
As for Sinner, the Italian will return for next month’s Italian Open and the French Open, where he’s the reigning champion. Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 3, admitted that it’s unlikely he will surpass Sinner in the rankings during the clay season.
“I’m too far from Jannik now, so I’ve realized that I don’t need to worry about that,” he said. “I just want to focus on my tennis and enjoy the game.”
Despite a series of disappointing losses, including a first-round exit at the Miami Open, Alcaraz remains confident about his form.
“I’m happy with how I’ve been playing this year. Tennis is not just about hitting the ball. Mentally and physically, I feel good,” he explained. “If I lose, it’s not always about my performance. People just focus on whether I win or lose without considering the opponent.”
Looking ahead to the Monte-Carlo Masters, Alcaraz is eager to improve on his previous record at the tournament, where he lost his opening match in 2022.
“It’s kind of a weird feeling to have only played here once and not won,” he said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to doing better this year.”
