Alcaraz and a golden opportunity at the Miami Open to gain an advantage as number 1

Andrés Tomás Rico | 17 Mar 2026 | 16.00

Alcaraz and a golden opportunity at the Miami Open to gain an advantage as number 1. Photo: Gettyimages

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Carlos Alcaraz has the last chance to distance himself from Jannik Sinner in the ATP ranking. The Spanish tennis player faces intense months ahead on the clay court circuit where he defends 4,330 points from Monte Carlo to Roland Garros, compared to the 1,950 points that belong to the Italian. Therefore, this Miami Open represents an opportunity to earn points that could be crucial in the future.

It is worth remembering that Alcaraz doesn't have to defend points in Miami after his surprising defeat last year in the second round against David Goffin. That moment marked a turning point in the season, and this 2026 presents itself as the time to halt Sinner's recovery, who is now collecting all the points missed last year due to his doping suspension.

The race for the number one spot between Alcaraz and Sinner in the coming months

For the first time in a long while, both players start a tournament from scratch, neither defending points. If they win their opening matches, they will leave Florida with points. However, the road ahead looks tougher for the world number one, who might face Joao Fonseca in his debut.

Currently, the difference between Alcaraz and Sinner stands at 2,140 points, following the 1,000 points the Italian earned by winning Indian Wells. In Miami, unless a catastrophe strikes for either player, the gap in the world rankings is not expected to change significantly. However, winning the title could lead to a considerable addition of points for one of them.

Therefore, it will be on the clay court swing where both players will engage in a battle of defense for the Spanish player and attack for the Italian. A fierce race for the number one spot lies ahead, filled with uncertainties: Which tournaments will each player participate in?

Both are confirmed for the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, while Alcaraz will return to the Conde de Godo tournament aiming for his third title. Additionally, he defends 350 points for reaching the final last year, while the number two will rest in the week before the Mutua Madrid Open.

The first doubts emerge regarding their participation in Madrid and Rome. Sinner is nearly set for Rome, where he defends his first points of the season, specifically 650 as the runner-up in 2025. We only await confirmation if he will head to Madrid first, where he has no points to defend either.

Alcaraz faces a more complicated scenario. Last year, he missed playing at the Caja Magica due to an injury sustained in the final of the Conde de Godo. He hopes to feature in the most important tournament in Spain this year. Nevertheless, shortly after, he will have to defend 1,000 points in Rome, with Paris looming on the horizon.

Skipping one of the two tournaments or going all out to arrive well-prepared for Roland Garros are the choices Carlos Alcaraz must make, as he contends for the number one spot against Jannik Sinner in what seems to be a tightly contested spring clay court battle.

In fact, a poor performance by Alcaraz in Miami and Monte Carlo, or missing one of the tour stops, combined with two titles from Sinner, would ignite a heated battle for the world throne even before reaching Roland Garros.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz y una oportunidad de oro en el Miami Open para ganar ventaja como número 1