As the 2025 Qatar Open kicks off, all eyes are on Carlos Alcaraz, but not just because he’s a tournament favorite. The 21-year-old Spanish sensation has been making headlines for his response to the shocking three-month suspension of his rival, Jannik Sinner.
While the tennis world reels from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) ruling, which sidelines Sinner until mid-2025, Alcaraz remains laser-focused on his own ambitions. “Whether he is there or not doesn’t influence us. We remain focused on us and our goals,” Alcaraz told Spanish outlet Sport before his opening match in Doha.
A Golden Opportunity—But Alcaraz Stays Humble
With Sinner out, the ATP World No. 1 ranking is suddenly within Alcaraz’s grasp. The Italian will forfeit the points he earned in early 2024, while Alcaraz has a prime chance to rack up victories and reclaim the top spot.
Yet, when asked if Sinner’s absence makes his path to No. 1 easier, Alcaraz dismissed any such notion.
“The number one is always a goal. As I said, him not being there doesn’t change anything for us. We are trying to get better at what we do and focused on continuing to work to get to number one.”
This mindset is a trademark of Alcaraz’s maturity. Instead of focusing on his rivals’ misfortunes, he maintains an unwavering belief in his own game.
Djokovic? Sinner? Doesn’t Matter—Alcaraz Only Competes with Himself
Sinner isn’t the only name Alcaraz shrugged off. When pressed about the absence of Novak Djokovic, the Spaniard repeated the same philosophy:
“It doesn’t change. It’s the same tournament. In all tournaments, there are great players. The fact that Djokovic may or may not be there really doesn’t influence me at all.”
Instead, Alcaraz emphasized that his preparation and approach remain the same, regardless of who’s in the draw.
“In the end, I would face him in the semifinals. Meanwhile, we approach the tournament in the same way. We focus on ourselves and trying to do the things we have in mind.”
This cool-headed focus has already paid off, with Alcaraz recently capturing the Rotterdam Open title, his first of the season.
Can Alcaraz Capitalize on the Moment?
With Sinner out and Djokovic’s schedule unpredictable, Alcaraz has a golden opportunity to dominate the early part of the 2025 season. The Qatar Open, Indian Wells, and Miami Open all offer crucial points that could propel him back to No. 1.
But true to form, Alcaraz isn’t thinking about rankings, politics, or his rivals’ setbacks—he’s only focused on his next match.
And that’s what makes him one of the most dangerous players on the planet right now.
