Alcaraz and the fight for the number one spot: "It's something that is on my mind, but.."

Óscar Belloch | 9 Mar 2025 | 01.06

Carlos Alcaraz in the press room at the Indian Wells Masters. Photo: Getty

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Carlos Alcaraz is already feeling great in Indian Wells. He sailed through his debut against Quentin Halys in just 1 hour and 7 minutes of play (6-4 6-2), showcasing the level at which he is accustomed to playing in the 'Tennis Paradise' as he aims for the great goal he has set for this edition once again: to lift the title for the third consecutive time.

The year for Carlos Alcaraz has been positive. He fell to the formidable Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinal, but secured his first career title on indoor courts in Rotterdam. His performance in Doha was less favorable as he was eliminated in the third round by Jiri Lehecka, never quite finding his comfort throughout the tournament. However, in Indian Wells, everything is different for him. The Spanish player spoke at a press conference following his victory over Halys.

- Dealing with nerves

On the court, Carlos revealed that he experiences a lot of nerves before tournaments, so he wanted to explain: "Every year is new. I have played each tournament several times, but every year brings different feelings and everything changes. For instance, today was the first time I faced Halys, so I wasn't sure how the match would go. Also, being this tournament, there is some extra pressure," he recounted.

- Pursuit of the number one spot

In a tournament without Alexander Zverev or Jannik Sinner, the battle to reclaim the number one ranking opens up a bit more: "It's something on my mind, but I'm not focused on it. I'm concentrated on myself, on playing good tennis, and on becoming a better player. I've been performing well in each tournament, and I must continue this way if I want to contend for the number one spot. If I focus on the world's top rankings, I put extra pressure on myself, and I don't want that. Nonetheless, even with Jannik absent, it's very difficult to regain the number one spot," he concluded.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz y la lucha por el número uno: "Es algo que está en mi cabeza, pero..."