Alcaraz Claims First Title of 2025, Breaks Indoor Tournament Curse
Last Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz secured his first title of 2025, finally overcoming his struggles in indoor tournaments. The 21-year-old from Murcia made history as the first Spanish player to lift the trophy in Rotterdam, triumphing despite not being at his best for most of the week—partly due to a lingering cold.
With this victory, the four-time Grand Slam champion, who fell short of the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, has closed the gap on Alexander Zverev in the ATP rankings. The German overtook Alcaraz at the end of last season after winning the Rolex Paris Masters in November.
Zverev Defends More Points Than Alcaraz
Between now and Roland Garros in late May, Alcaraz will need to defend 1,500 ranking points. He will drop 100 points from his 2024 Buenos Aires campaign but has an opportunity to regain ground at next week’s ATP 500 event in Doha.
The former world No. 1 will then defend 1,000 points in Indian Wells, where he has claimed back-to-back titles. Additionally, he has 200 points to protect at both the Miami Open and Madrid Open. His participation in Monte Carlo—where he missed last year’s edition due to injury—remains uncertain, as does his presence at the Rome Masters 1000.
Zverev, on the other hand, has 1,950 points to defend before the French Open. His breakdown includes 100 points from Los Cabos, 200 in Indian Wells, 400 in Miami, 100 in Monte Carlo, 50 in Munich, 100 in Madrid, and 1,000 in Rome, where he lifted the trophy last year.
Securing the No. 2 ranking ahead of Roland Garros will be crucial for both players, as it would help them avoid the possibility of facing Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. The outcome of this battle could also hinge on Alcaraz’s fitness, as injuries have troubled him during this stretch of the season in the past.
