Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about the mental toll of trying to chase down Jannik Sinner’s World No. 1 ranking, admitting that the pressure has negatively affected his game in 2025.
Speaking to the media on Sunday at the Monte Carlo Masters, the 21-year-old Spaniard confessed that constant talk of potentially reclaiming the top spot during Sinner’s absence took a toll on his mindset.
“A lot of people have been telling me that I could become number one with Jannik out,” Alcaraz said. “That pressure has kind of killed me.”
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam winner, has had a rocky start to the season, with his only title coming in Rotterdam on hard court two months ago. Despite Sinner serving a doping ban, Alcaraz remains third in the ATP rankings and has not been able to close the 3,610-point gap.
“I’m Too Far from Jannik”
Alcaraz downplayed any expectations of overtaking Sinner during the clay swing, despite his past success on the surface, including winning the 2024 French Open and back-to-back Madrid Masters titles in 2022 and 2023.
“I’ve realized I’m too far from Jannik to think about being number one during the clay season,” he said. “So I’ve changed my mindset. I’m just going to focus on playing, not the rankings.”
Sinner is serving a three-month suspension after testing positive twice for traces of clostebol in March 2024. He is expected to return for the Rome Open in May.
Monte Carlo Still Uncharted Territory
Alcaraz is hoping to make a breakthrough at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he has never won a match. He lost in the first round on his debut in 2022 and withdrew from the tournament the last two years due to injury.
This year, the third seed received a first-round bye and will face the winner of Francisco Cerundolo vs. Fabio Fognini in the round of 32.
Despite recent struggles, Alcaraz remains optimistic heading into a part of the season where he’s historically excelled.
