Fresh after losing to Jannik Sinner in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters, Carlos Alcaraz has shared some personal insights into his rivalry with the Italian. The Spaniard believes that going up against a player with the quality that Sinner possesses helps bring the best out of him. He is also aware of the World No. 1 scenario heading into the Barcelona Open.
Alcaraz will make his return to the court on Tuesday as he takes on Otto Virtanen in the first round.
Carlos Alcaraz Opens Up On Jannik Sinner Rivalry
Ahead of his Barcelona Open first-round matchup, Alcaraz spoke about his rivalry with Sinner. The seven-time Grand Slam champion joked that he would not be missing his arch-rival this week as he tries to win the ATP 500 event on home soil.
Sinner is not playing in Barcelona this week and is expected to return to the court for the next ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.
“He’s one of the players who makes me better, who helps me realize my weaknesses and what I need to focus on. That’s why it’s great to have him as a benchmark, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be playing in other tournaments from time to time. I won’t be missing him this week,” Alcaraz said (via AS).
Alcaraz also spoke about the added motivation that the fight for the world No. 1 ranking with Sinner brings. He will need to win the Barcelona Open to claw back the top ranking after being usurped by his rival on Sunday.
“I know that I have to win the tournament if I want to reclaim the No. 1 ranking. The battle Jannik and I are having for the No. 1 ranking is fantastic, and it’s probably an extra source of motivation, but my focus is on staying the course. We’re very clear on what we need to do and put into practice, especially after yesterday’s loss,” he added.
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Alcaraz was beaten in the final of the Barcelona Open by Holger Rune last year. But he is a two-time champion at the tournament and will have his sights set on winning the Trofeo Conde de Godó again this week. He could face tough competition from the likes of Lorenzo Musetti, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev.
After a near-perfect start to the season with titles at the Australian Open and Qatar Open, Alcaraz suddenly finds himself behind Sinner after experiencing a mini-slump by his high standards. But a strong run in Barcelona, and he will have momentum back on his side as he looks to mount a successful title defense at the French Open.
