The Spaniard has held the ATP No. 1 position for 22 weeks, overtaking Sinner last October, but faces pressure at this week’s Monte Carlo Masters, where the Italian is closing in.
Alcaraz began the tournament with a 1,190-point lead over Sinner but lost 1,000 points as the defending champion in Monte Carlo, while Sinner has no points to defend from last year. This leaves Alcaraz just 190 points ahead. If Sinner outperforms him in the tournament, he would reclaim the top ranking.
After defeating Sebastian Baez in his opening match, Alcaraz said: “To be honest, I’m going to lose the number one of the world. I don’t know if it’s going to be in this tournament or in the next one. I defend a bunch of points that are going to be really difficult to defend all.”
The seven-time Grand Slam winner faces further challenges in the coming weeks, defending 325 points at next week’s Barcelona Open and another 1,000 points at the Italian Open, while Sinner has only 650 points to defend in Rome.
Speaking to Eurosport France, Alcaraz added: “Getting back to Jannik and the world number one ranking, I saw that my statement caused a stir. But I mean it. He has several important tournaments coming up where he can earn a lot of points. I have to defend some, and I can’t defend them all. It’s going to be tough, but that’s also what makes our rivalry so exciting. He’s going to become world No. 1 again, and I’m going to push him as far as I can to take that spot back. This battle for the top spot has been fantastic so far.”
Alcaraz also discussed areas of his game that have improved since winning the Australian Open in January. “If I have to single out one in particular, it’s my serve. I’ve already invested a lot of time in that aspect, not only on the court but also off it,” he said. “How to improve my movement, my throw, my technique, my feel. I’ve worked on it a lot; for me, it’s crucial to visualise it both on and off the court.”
The 22-year-old’s main goal at the start of the 2026 season was to win the season-opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park, completing his Career Grand Slam. With that achieved, he is now setting new objectives.
“I’ve understood something for some time: when you reach a seasonal goal, you have to take the time to enjoy it. But at the same time, it immediately forces you to start from scratch, to set new short-term goals,” Alcaraz said. “What I have in mind, very clearly, are the Grand Slam tournaments. I still have three scheduled this year, so I’ve already shifted my attention to preparing for Roland Garros. It’s a fantastic tournament, I love playing it, so I can’t wait.”
