“That Pressure Has Killed Me,” Carlos Alcaraz Opens Up on the Harrowing Stress Chasing Him as Jannik Sinner’s Absence Sinks In

Every athlete knows that feeling – the weight of expectation, the pressure to seize an open door. With the formidable Jannik Sinner sidelined for three months, the tennis world buzzed with anticipation. Sinner, who had seemed an unstoppable force since his Shanghai Masters victory over Novak Djokovic in October 2024, his carefree demeanor even weathering the storm of a March 2024 doping controversy had created a void. The window was there, inviting others to step up and challenge his ranking. But then there’s Carlos Alcaraz, arriving to remind us why filling that void is far from a simple task.

“A lot of people are asking me, or are telling me, that I have the chance to become number one if Jannik isn’t playing,” Alcaraz said in Monte Carlo, as he prepares for his Roland Garros title defense.

Following Jannik’s ban, Carlos started strong with a title in Rotterdam two months ago. However, he stumbled in Qatar’s quarterfinals, fell in Indian Wells’ semifinals, and exited Miami early. He now trails Jannik Sinner by over 3,500 points. Previously, he was seen as a top contender to replace him in the rankings ahead of the French Open. Considering their H2H with Carlos in the lead by 6-4, he was deemed a worthy opponent for Jannik’s dominance. However, the Spaniard admitted to feeling the pressure on his shoulders.

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“So probably that pressure has killed me in some way.”

The Spaniard first became the world No. 1 on September 12, 2022, after winning the US Open at just 19. However, he lost his ranking to Novak Djokovic at the 2023 US Open. Jannik Sinner then dethroned Nole in June 2024, claiming the top spot with his Australian Open title and other strong performances. However, as Alcaraz prepares for Monte Carlo, he’s shifting focus away from the top spot.

“I’m just thinking that I’m not able to become number one in the clay season, even if Jannik is not playing, I don’t have the chance to do it,” Alcaraz said. “I think I’m too far from Jannik. So I’m just here and I realise that I don’t have to think about it and just go there and play. That’s my mindset right now.”

Fun fact: Alexander Zverev is almost 1,000 points above Alcaraz in the standings in second place.

The Monte Carlo Masters 1000 is significant as it signals the highly anticipated start of the clay-court swing – a terre battue where Alcaraz has historically thrived. Demonstrating his strength on the surface, Alcaraz won consecutive Madrid Masters titles in 2022 and 2023, followed by his impressive French Open victory in 2024. What about Monte Carlo specifically?

However, Alcaraz’s history at the Monte Carlo Masters is yet to yield a victory, following a first-round loss in 2022 and subsequent withdrawals in the 2023 and 2024 tournaments. Receiving a first-round bye, Alcaraz will aim to break his Monte Carlo winless streak when he faces the winner of the second-round match between Francisco Cerundolo and Fabio Fognini.

So there you have it. The world No.3 is focused on himself while Jannik’s return inches close. On the flip side, when asked about what he expects his rivals’ reactions to be when he returns, Sinner had a rather composed answer.

Jannik Sinner reaffirms his stance on players reactions to his ban

For the unversed, Sinner’s doping saga began in March 2024 when he tested positive for the banned anabolic substance at Indian Wells and again in an out-of-competition test on March 18. The substance allegedly entered his system through a gloveless massage by his former physiotherapist, who used a spray containing Clostebol to treat a wound on his hand. This led to unintentional contamination, a claim accepted by the ITIA, which initially cleared Sinner of wrongdoing. However, WADA appealed in September, arguing that he should be held accountable for his team’s actions.

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This led to an out-of-court settlement, resulting in a three-month ban in February 2025. Despite this, Sinner remains confident about his innocence.

In an interview with Sky Sports, he expressed, “I don’t know how other players will react. I know what happened, and I know I am innocent. I am calm because in the end I know that what I want to do is to play tennis and be serene. That’s the end of the story. So, I am sure all will go well, even if at the beginning it will take a while to start over.”

Sinner’s absence hasn’t shaken his top ranking significantly, thanks to his strong lead over competitors like Alexander Zverev by 2,685 points and Carlos Alcaraz by 3,610 points. He is counting down the days until his return to competitive tennis, eager to resume competing. He is due to return in time for the Rome Open in May.

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“I’m very well, I rested and I’m happy,” said Sinner recently. “Every day I feel better physically and mentally, even if there is still a long way to go. See you in Rome, let’s hope we prepare well.”

In the meantime, Carlos is gearing up to take charge at the Monte-Carlo Masters. His first match kicks off tomorrow, April 8! Will he overcome the pressure to perform and possibly take the title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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