Carlos Alcaraz walked into the 2025 Rotterdam Open with a point to prove—and he walked out with a statement victory. The Spanish sensation, still reeling from a disappointing quarterfinal exit at the Australian Open, dominated the ATP 500 event, claiming his first-ever indoor hardcourt title.
But the victory came with a bit of humor and brutal honesty. When asked about the absence of World No. 1 Jannik Sinner—the reigning Rotterdam champion—Alcaraz didn’t hold back:
“I didn’t miss Jannik during the week,” he said with a laugh. “Of course, it would have been great for the tournament if he had played, but I understand his reasons.”
For Alcaraz, Sinner’s absence wasn’t just a convenient competitive break—it was a golden opportunity to gain ground in the ATP rankings. And he capitalized in a big way.
A Season Rebound After Australian Open Frustration
The 21-year-old Spaniard didn’t get the start to the year he envisioned. Facing an injured Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals, Alcaraz had the perfect chance to seize a major win against one of tennis’ all-time greats. Instead, he fell short, watching Djokovic limp past him into the semis.
But in Rotterdam, Alcaraz flipped the script. Despite admitting to struggling with his own health throughout the tournament, he bulldozed through the draw, proving his resilience and adaptability on an indoor surface where he hadn’t previously excelled.
“This title is special because it’s my first on an indoor surface,” he said. “I’ve shown I can play well here. Some players are naturally better indoors, but I managed to beat them. That gives me a lot of confidence.”
Alcaraz Capitalizes On Sinner’s Absence
Had Sinner played, Rotterdam might have looked very different. The Italian was the defending champion and the highest-ranked player entered in the tournament. But his withdrawal did more than just clear Alcaraz’s path—it also cost Sinner 500 ATP points, while Alcaraz gained 500 by winning the title.
The result? A massive 1,000-point swing in the rankings battle, bringing Alcaraz closer to overtaking Sinner at the top.
Alcaraz has long emphasized that he wants to beat the best to become the best. But this time, he was happy to take the points without facing his Italian rival.
The Road Ahead: Is Alcaraz Set For A Takeover?
With his first title of the season in the bag and momentum on his side, Alcaraz now has a prime opportunity to challenge both Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the rankings race. If his form continues to build, the battle for the World No. 1 spot could be one of the fiercest in years.
And while he may have joked about Sinner’s absence in Rotterdam, something tells us Alcaraz wouldn’t mind seeing his rival back on the other side of the net soon—for the chance to prove, once and for all, that he’s ready to be the best.