Alcaraz analyse sa relation avec Sinner et la lutte pour le numéro un

Pedro de Pablos | 13 Apr 2026 | 17.13

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Carlos Alcaraz has landed at the Barcelona Open 2026 with the objective of reclaiming the number one spot in the ATP rankings. After losing the final of the Monte Carlo Masters against Jannik Sinner, the Spanish tennis player conceded the top spot to the player from San Candido, a situation he could reverse by winning this tournament.

Last year, Alcaraz reached the final against Holger Rune, where he lost after experiencing some physical issues that hindered him in the title fight. Therefore, if he lifts the trophy in Barcelona, he will garner the necessary points to surpass Jannik Sinner, a fact he discussed in the press conference before his debut on Tuesday against Otto Virtanen, highlighting the admiration he feels for the Italian player, from whom he learns every day to continue evolving.

Full press conference of Carlos Alcaraz before his debut at the Barcelona Open 2026

Snatching back the number one spot from Sinner once again

I see that I have to win the tournament here if I want to remember it. I think the battle we are having for the number one spot between Jannik and me is very beautiful, and I think it is probably an extra motivation. But truly, what we are focused on and what I have in mind is trying to continue the path we are on, trying to keep improving. We are very clear about the things we need to do and put into practice in training and matches and even more so after yesterday's defeat. So for me, that is the main objective, but obviously in terms of results and points, it is an extra motivation.

Relationship with Sinner

Well, the truth is that Jannik and I have a very good relationship. Obviously, it's not personal in a strict sense; we're not going to have dinner or lunch together, but I believe the relationship we have off the court is very good. I think he has a team and people around him who are also very nice individuals. He himself is as well. Beyond what we may do or what we are fighting for on the court, I believe our way of being off the court will not change. I think this is demonstrated in the respect we have for each other.

Just yesterday, when I was going to my room, I saw him jumping into the pool. I stayed to watch the moment and keep it in mind. The truth is I admire him. And I think it's also a very good way to show the world that even though we have a very good rivalry on the court, that we are fighting for the same things, that we are basically fighting for the same thing, we can be good people and have a very good relationship off the court.

Relief that Sinner is not in Barcelona

Well, obviously, I'm not going to say that I'm not. He is one of the players who make me better. He makes me realize my weaknesses. He makes me realize what I really need to focus on in each training session and in each match. So, I try to improve myself every day. Therefore, it's great to have him as a target and to see all that he is achieving. But obviously, I won't miss him this week, for example, and that's fine.

Words during his defeat in Miami

Well, first of all, there are things on the court that, in the end, one of the most challenging things is to control your own emotions. Sometimes you react over the smallest things and say things that you often don't even mean. Later, you realize the gravity of the words, the impact of what you say on the court, even if you don't always think about what you've said. Many times on certain tours or in certain matches, you arrive a bit mentally saturated from what happens off the court or what surrounds the tournament. There are times when you arrive a bit more mentally exhausted than usual, and when tough matches come, matches where you have to endure mentally, there comes a point where it becomes very hard. So after that, we tried to turn it around, rest, and come back stronger.

Things to improve after the loss to Sinner

We have been following a training regimen, we have been working on many things we want to improve for a long time. They are not major things; they are more small details, small strokes that can make a difference when you play against one player or another. We have been practicing since the preseason until now. Even after yesterday's defeat, I believe one of the great things we gained positively was after the match, the discussion we had with the entire team. We put everything on the table, we all arrived at the same point, and after yesterday's defeat, we added more things that need improvement, which I will not disclose; we keep that within the team.

Match load on the clay court tour

We have to take it day by day, not jump ahead of ourselves. I don't know what will happen. I don't know if I will reach the later rounds, if I will lose in the early rounds; I can't predict that. I don't know if the matches will be short, longer, less demanding, more demanding. What I can say is to go day by day, listen to my body, listen to what I really need. Listen to my team, who truly knows me and knows what I need at each moment. And above all, from there, try to make the best possible decision. But for now, we are enthusiastic, eager, and ready to do everything in our power to endure the entire clay court tour.

How to recover from one day to the next

When you have to play the next day, you have almost no time for anything. Well, it's coming here and speaking in front of all of you. As you may have seen, today I didn't train, which, due to the completely different conditions from Monte Carlo until now, might be a slight hindrance. Tomorrow, we will try to have the best sensations possible to be able to play the match in a good way and see what happens. But well, today is a somewhat calmer day.

Ghosts after the defeat to Sinner

Well, as I said before, I think you have to take it day by day. I remember perfectly that last year, I may have been a bit tired, but physically without any major discomfort until the final and then suddenly. In the end, tennis is a sport that I think is somewhat unpredictable. You don't know what will happen at one point or another, so we will try to do things in the best possible way to physically feel good to endure this tournament, for no pain to arise, and obviously to be in Madrid and in the upcoming tournaments. What happened last year happened, and as I said, we will learn from those things, listen to our bodies and do things in a good way.

Fear of Sinner's improvement

"Well, honestly, I am glad, I am glad to see Jannik, especially improving. He has openly said that the clay court tour is not his favorite due to his playing style, and seeing especially the results he is achieving, the level he is showing on clay, personally pleases me because, as I said, right now he is the player who makes me improve, who makes me better, makes me stop to think and say how can I be better, what do I have to improve to try to beat him, to try to win. So, I am happy that he is taking giant steps, especially on clay. People may say that I am more of a clay court player than him, and while it's true that ultimately he has beaten me on all surfaces, and I have beaten him on all surfaces. I think it's a bit, how to say, we could say that when we face each other, there is no favorite, it doesn't matter if we play on grass, fast or clay. So, in that regard, let's see how this clay court tour will be, and hopefully, it turns out as it did last year."

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