Alcaraz and the serious risks of his clay court tour calendar

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 28 Mar 2026 | 12.07

Carlos Alcaraz, clay court tour schedule. Photo: gettyimages

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Carlos Alcaraz returns to the surface that brought him the most joy last year and where he aspires to create a historic winning dynasty: the clay courts. Everything indicates that he will plan a very ambitious schedule in a compact and overloaded tour, seeking titles and confidence before the big event, such as Roland Garros 2026.

With limitless ambition, determination to redeem himself for the setback suffered in the first Masters 1000 of the year, and excitement to continue making history and solidifying his position as the world number 1, Carlos Alcaraz will appear in the clay court tour kicking off with the Monte Carlo tournament. An exciting journey through legendary settings of Old Europe until reaching the tennis Mecca on this surface, Roland Garros 2026, where he will defend the title.

This is Carlos Alcaraz's calendar for the clay court tour in 2026

ATP Rolex Masters 1000 Monte Carlo: April 5th to 12th
ATP 500 Conde de Godó: April 13th to 19th
Mutua Madrid Open: April 22nd to May 3rd
ATP Masters 1000 Rome: May 6th to 17th
Roland Garros: May 24th to June 7th

It is utopian to think that any of the world's top tennis players can compete in optimal physical and mental conditions in all the major tournaments of the European clay court tour. The tight calendar, the physical demands of this surface, and the need to play six matches to win the Masters 1000 in Madrid and Rome make it almost obligatory to take a break by sacrificing an event.

Not doing so clearly exposes oneself to the risk of injury and jeopardizes participation in Paris. Carlos has not played in the 5 most relevant events of this tour (Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros) in any season throughout his professional career. He skipped the Rome tournament in 2022, missed Monte Carlo in 2023, and couldn't compete in the Mutua Madrid Open in 2025 due to physical discomfort. It is undeniable evidence of how the current pace of play makes it incompatible to participate in so many consecutive weeks.

Alcaraz and the desire to play it all: historic challenge or irresponsibility?

The Murcian had a scare in 2024 when he could only play in Madrid, clearly hampered by arm discomfort, which eventually faded away by Roland Garros, where he claimed the title. It is clear that all these events are very special for Carlos, offering him the opportunity to set historical records in each, but the main focus must be on arriving in the best possible form at the second Grand Slam of the season, where he will seek his third consecutive title.

For all these reasons, many are calling for the Spaniard to sacrifice one of the previous tournaments. One might have expected that after reigning in Monte Carlo last year, Alcaraz would have decided to skip it to refresh his mind and prepare for what comes next. However, he has confirmed his presence in the Principality, which could be related to defending the number 1 spot and the 1,000 points he would lose if he didn't compete there.

Immediately after finishing his participation in Monaco, he would have to move on to Barcelona, a tournament very special to him as it is held in his country and due to his connection with the club where it takes place. It has never been easy for Carlos to give up competing here and although it might seem the most logical choice for this season since he "only" defends 330 points, everything indicates that he will be there ready to debut on Tuesday, April 14, unless an unexpected physical issue arises in Monte Carlo.

Next comes the event that can generate the most internal debate for the Spanish player and his team: the Mutua Madrid Open. Absenting himself for the second consecutive year from the country's most important tournament would be tough and seen as a good chance to earn ranking points. However, the fact that it is played at altitude and comes after two weeks of maximum demand on the tour poses a great risk of his absence.

If Alcaraz manages to come out unscathed from the competitive demands of participating in the three tournaments, it almost seems utopian to think he would go to Rome. He would have to accept the loss of 1,000 points, but he would likely prioritize his physical and mental health as well as the prevention of issues. If he feels well and attends the Italian Open, completing the four previous tournaments to Roland Garros 2026, it would need to be assessed whether his performance doesn't decline due to fatigue and whether he arrives in Paris full of confidence.

How many ATP ranking points does Carlos Alcaraz defend in the 2026 clay court tour?

One of the factors that may influence Alcaraz and his team in deciding which tournaments to play on this tour is the race with Sinner for the world number 1. The margin has decreased more than expected after Indian Wells and Miami, coupled with the fact that the Italian has no points to defend until the Rome tournament, where he was a finalist last year. Therefore, all the pressure is on Carlos, who has little room to increase his personal tally.

ATP Rolex Masters 1000 Monte Carlo: 1,000 points as defending champion
ATP 500 Conde de Godó: 330 points as the reigning finalist
Mutua Madrid Open: 0 points as he did not participate
ATP Masters 1000 Rome: 1,000 points as defending champion
Roland Garros: 2,000 points as defending champion

Ultimately, Carlos Alcaraz and his entire team must carefully consider all aspects before decisions regarding which tournaments to play. The initial plan is to compete in the four most important tournaments leading up to Roland Garros 2026, but this may change based on results, physical and mental feelings, and the caution they consider necessary to avoid risks.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz y los graves riesgos de su calendario en la gira sobre tierra batida