Carlos Alcaraz returned to his favourite surface with authority at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, demonstrating why he remains one of the most exciting players on the ATP Tour. The reigning king of clay, who posted a remarkable 22-1 record on red courts last season, opened his title defence with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sebastian Baez. Alcaraz said he thoroughly enjoys playing on clay, a surface that clearly brings out the best in his game.
Despite tying Jannik Sinner with 66 weeks as world No. 1, Alcaraz remains unbothered by ranking pressures. Acknowledging Sinner’s recent streak of strong results, he said, “The No. 1 spot is not in my mind. Sooner or later, I’m going to lose it because Jannik has some tournaments he doesn’t defend, and I have a lot to defend. I just try to focus on my tennis and perform on the court.” His focus is purely on playing well rather than holding onto the top ranking.
Off the court, Alcaraz is working on a personal project: a custom Sunreef Ultima 88 catamaran. The 88-foot luxury yacht, expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete, offers the world No. 1 a way to relax and disconnect from tennis. “On the sea, everything is chill. It’s my way to disconnect from everything,” he explained. Fellow ATP player Tommy Paul has already expressed interest, prompting a playful arrangement. “I better invite him. I’ll tell him he’s going to take me fishing. Half and half, I’m going to make a deal with him,” Alcaraz joked.
With his clay season underway, Alcaraz now turns his attention to the quarterfinals, where he will face Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Etcheverry reached the last eight after a three-set victory over Terence Atmane, setting the stage for a competitive clash against the top seed.
Alcaraz’s combination of on-court dominance and off-court composure continues to define him as a player at the peak of his powers, balancing championship ambitions with personal passions.
