Carlos Alcaraz makes candid confession about pressure of chasing world No 1 Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz has admitted the pressure of trying to chase down world No 1 Jannik Sinner during his rival’s absence from the tour has had a negative impact on him.
Sinner is currently serving a three-month ban due to testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March last year.
The Italian’s suspension runs from February 9 to May 4, which means he will likely make his comeback on home soil at the Italian Open — which will get underway on May 7.
Sinner defended his Australian Open title in January at what was the only tournament he has played so far this season.
The 23-year-old has been forced to miss events in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, and he will also be unable to compete at the Masters 1000 event in Madrid before his return.
Alcaraz made a strong start in his bid to close the gap to Sinner by winning the Rotterdam Open in early February, but he was unable to fully capitalise at the three tournaments he played after that triumph.
The Spaniard reached the quarter-finals at the Qatar Open and the semi-finals at the Indian Wells Masters before suffering a shock second round exit at the Miami Masters.
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This leaves Alcaraz, who is ranked third, 3,610 points adrift of Sinner, which means he cannot usurp the Italian as world No 1 before his return date.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters, Alcaraz revealed he will not think about the No 1 ranking during the clay season.
“A lot of people are asking me, or are telling me, that I have the chance to become No 1 if Jannik is not playing,” said the four-time Grand Slam champion. “So probably that pressure has killed me in some way.
“I’m not surprised. The people always say that we have to win the tournaments or the top people have to be there all the time playing finals or winning tournaments.
“I’m just thinking that I’m not able to become No 1… in the clay season. Even if Jannik is not playing, I don’t have the chance to do it. I think I’m too far from Jannik.
“So I’m just here and I realise that I don’t have to think about it and just go there and play. That’s my mindset right now.”
The 21-year-old will face either Francisco Cerundolo or Fabio Fognini in his opening match in Monte Carlo, where he is competing for just the second time.
