Young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz opens up about the intense pressure he faced to surpass Jannik Sinner, who was serving a doping ban, revealing that it almost “killed” him mentally. After Jannik Sinner received a three-month ban from WADA following his Australian Open win, Alcaraz found himself in a race for the top spot, along with Alexander Zverev. However, as time passed, the Spaniard realized that the pressure was taking a toll on his performance.
During the Monte Carlo Masters, Alcaraz expressed how the constant reminders of his potential to claim the No. 1 ranking in Sinner’s absence affected his game. Despite recent setbacks in Doha, Indian Wells, and Miami, Alcaraz now feels a sense of relief as he begins his clay season, acknowledging that overtaking Sinner is no longer a realistic goal in the near future.
Seeded at No. 2 in Monte Carlo, the 21-year-old Alcaraz is gearing up to face either Francisco Cerundolo or Fabio Fognini in the second round, marking only his second appearance at the prestigious tournament. With a renewed mindset and a focus on his game rather than rankings, Alcaraz is determined to make his mark on the clay court without the burden of external expectations weighing him down.