Carlos Alcaraz is currently the top-ranked men’s player in the world, leading the ATP Tour rankings with more than 13,500 points. Last year, he battled closely with rival Jannik Sinner for the No. 1 spot, but the Spaniard ultimately emerged on top despite losing in the ATP Finals.
Samuel López Discusses Carlos Alcaraz Potentially Losing the No. 1 Ranking
Alcaraz first reached No. 1 in 2022 after winning his first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open, becoming the youngest man and first teenager in the Open Era to hold the top ranking at 19. He finished that year as the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP history.
He traded the position back and forth with Novak Djokovic in 2023 before Sinner briefly rose to No. 1 in mid-2024. Alcaraz regained the ranking in November 2025 and has held it for 20 consecutive weeks, 64 weeks total.
Speaking in a recent interview, Alcaraz’s coach, Samuel López, acknowledged the possibility of losing the spot:
“Yes, it’s something we have to talk about again. It’s something that is talked about, but yes. I think he understands that it can happen, and that it’s not a drama.”
López emphasized that rankings are not their main focus: “It’s already happened to him before. In the end, being No. 1, No. 4… what matters is that you see that you’re evolving, that you’re ready for the big moments and able to keep adding titles.”
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He added that consistency is the key to finishing No. 1:
“No. 1 is a consequence of consistency over the whole year. This is a long-distance race. We’ll see, at different moments one defends points, then another does. In the end, whoever finishes as No. 1 will deserve it. There’s no need to give it more importance than it has.”
🎙️ Samu Lopez about potentially losing the number 1 ranking:
🇪🇸: “Yes, it’s something we have to talk about again. It’s something that is talked about, but yes. I think he understands that it can happen, and that it’s not a drama.
“It’s already happened to him before. In the… pic.twitter.com/EWQ33wwhuP
— Carlos Alcaraz Daily (@alcarazdaily) March 30, 2026
These comments show that while maintaining No. 1 is important, the focus remains on winning major titles and improving. Alcaraz, who had never advanced past the quarterfinals in Melbourne until this year, went on to win the Australian Open, completing a Career Grand Slam at just 22.
Grass and clay remain his strongest surfaces, but he has improved on hard courts, currently holding both the U.S. Open and Australian Open titles.
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Alcaraz started 2026 with a 16-match unbeaten streak before losing to former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells semifinal. He then suffered a third-round exit in Miami against Sebastian Korda, the lowest-ranked opponent to beat him at that event since David Goffin last year.
The world No. 1 is now back in Murcia, Spain, training on clay at Real Sociedad Club de Campo Murcia. He will compete in the Monte-Carlo Masters beginning April 5, aiming to regain form ahead of his Roland Garros title defense in two months.
