Published by Mathieu Warnier, Media365 on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 9:20 pm
Top seed at the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000, Carlos Alcaraz has revealed that he does not feel any pressure related to being the defending champion. The Spaniard also stated his intention to stick to his plan to prepare for Roland-Garros.
Carlos Alcaraz is back on his favorite surface. After a mixed North American swing with a semi-final appearance at Indian Wells followed by a third-round exit at Miami, the world number 1 is expected in Monte-Carlo for the first major clay court event of the season. The native of Murcia will approach the Principality’s Masters 1000 as the defending champion for the first time but without changing his approach. “It’s a new year, new feelings, new things to improve, new things that I think I can put in place,” he said in comments to the newspaper L’Equipe. “I try to feel good.” Thanks to his status as the number 1 seed, Carlos Alcaraz will have to wait until the second round to start his campaign, facing the winner of Monday’s match between Sebastian Baez and Stan Wawrinka.
Alcaraz Would Love to Face Wawrinka
Although he has already faced the Argentine three times on the ATP tour, winning each encounter, he has never crossed paths with the Swiss. The former Roland-Garros champion expressed his hope for a surprise against the Spaniard. “It’s incredible to hear him say these words. And I would love it too,” responded Carlos Alcaraz. “I had the opportunity to train with him here. It was amazing to share the court with him.” His presence in Monte-Carlo will be the first stage in the journey leading the world number 1 to Roland-Garros, where he is the reigning champion. While acknowledging that “the clay court season is very demanding physically and mentally,” he does not plan to skip the Barcelona tournament, viewing it as “a very important tournament.”
Alcaraz: “I Just Focus on the Game”
He described this ATP season as giving him “a special feeling.” “I used to play there when I was under 14,” he reminisced. “I have many friends there. We’ll see how it goes, physically and mentally.” After mentioning that the Barcelona week could serve as a rest period during the clay court season, Carlos Alcaraz discussed the possibility of taking a break from the tour, following in the footsteps of his idol Michael Jordan. “If I feel like I need a break or something, I will take it, for sure,” he stated. “What’s great for me is knowing how I feel mentally and physically. That’s the most important thing. But for now, I just focus on the game.” So, be prepared to see more of the Murcian in the years to come.
