Match Reaction
Alcaraz on battle for No. 1: ‘I’m going to lose it at some point’
Spaniard’s rival Sinner has shot at sealing return to top spot in Monte-Carlo
April 07, 2026
Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz in action on Tuesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
By Andy West
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner each delivered opening displays on Tuesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters that demonstrated exactly why they are currently locked in a battle for No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
After Sinner dropped just three games in his victory against Ugo Humbert, Alcaraz powered past Sebastian Baez for the loss of just four. Yet even after marching to a commanding 6-1, 6-3 triumph against Baez on Court Rainier III, Alcaraz was quick to point out that it will be a long battle for him to resist Sinner’s charge towards top spot.
“To be honest, I’m going to lose No. 1 in the world [at some point]. I don’t know if it is going to be at this tournament or in the next one,” said Alcaraz. “I’m defending a bunch of points that are going to be really difficult to defend. Even if I defend them, Jannik is going to add some points at these tournaments where he doesn’t have to defend any points.
“I will try to play my best and let’s see what happens, but for me the No. 1 spot is not in my mind right now. I’m just trying to feel the best way on clay courts and let’s see how the clay swing goes.”
The only way Alcaraz can guarantee he remains as No. 1 next Monday is by successfully defending his title in Monte-Carlo. Looking beyond the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monaco, the Spaniard will have a further 3,300 points to defend across the rest of the clay swing, while Sinner will be defending just 1,950 in the same period.
Alcaraz defeated Sinner in the final to win two trophies on clay in 2025, in Rome and at Roland Garros. At the latter, he famously saved three championship points and rallied from two sets down to triumph in one of the most dramatic Grand Slam title matches in recent memory. The Spaniard believes such memories will likely fuel Sinner’s fire on ‘the red dirt’ in 2026.
“I know Jannik, and we can all see that he always comes back stronger when he loses matches,” said Alcaraz in his post-match press conference after downing Baez. “I’m pretty sure he is looking back at the tournaments he played on clay last year, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be better this year. I’ve got to be ready for that.
“I would say he feels more natural on hard courts and I feel more natural on clay. I grew up on clay, but let’s see how it’s going to be. He is hungry for everything on clay, and those are the tournaments he misses on his ‘belt’. For sure for him, and for me obviously, it’s going to be quite an interesting clay season ahead.”
However the next two months on the clay turn out, Alcaraz could not have made a better start to his year on the surface against Baez. Aside from dropping serve once in the second set, the Spaniard played a near-flawless match to improve to 18-2 for the year, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
“Yes, I surprised myself. The first match of every tournament is never easy,” said Alcaraz. “It [never] is, with everything you have in your mind, and it’s even tougher with a different surface. My last match on clay was almost a year ago, so I thought I was going to feel a little bit worse in terms of everything, but I was surprised with my movement, how I hit the ball, and how I felt on the court.
I’m just really happy about it and hopefully I will feel the same in the next round, or just feel better and better every day.”
