“That pressure has killed me in some way,” Carlos Alcaraz said a week ago, reflecting on his mindset in the last couple of months. After Jannik Sinner was handed a 3-month suspension back in February, the weight of expectation loomed large on Alcaraz as people backed him to displace the Italian from the top spot in the ATP rankings. But the 21-year-old, who appeared to have regained his form with the Rotterdam title after the Australian Open setback, wasn’t able to close the gap on Sinner as quickly as he was expected to. His form remained shaky as he returned empty-handed from the Sunshine Double for the first time in three years. However, with his Monte Carlo triumph, Alcaraz has turned the tables. The Spaniard is now closing the gap on Sinner, reigniting his chase for the throne.

Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Monte Carlo seeking redemption after a surprising early exit in the Miami Open last month. Back on his favored clay surface, he quickly found his rhythm. Battling through tough three-setters against Francisco Cerúndolo and Arthur Fils, and cruising past Daniel Altmaier and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets, the Spaniard showcased both grit and grace. In the final, he faced 23-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a generational showdown. It was the second Masters 1000 final of the season between two players born in the 2000s! Drawing from his growing resume, including a Roland Garros crown and an Olympic silver medal on clay, Alcaraz leaned into his experience when it mattered most.

Despite the chilly, slow conditions, Carlitos remained unshaken, using his trademark composure and tactical mastery to clinch his third Masters 1000 title on clay, adding Monte Carlo to his previous Madrid triumphs in 2022 and 2023. But beyond lifting the trophy, this victory carries deeper significance for the Spanish ace. It marks his first Monte Carlo Masters title and, more importantly, gets him into the race to reclaim the ATP world’s top spot. 

Victory in Monaco marks a pivotal moment for Carlos Alcaraz, not just in terms of silverware but also in the context of the ATP rankings! With his impressive run culminating in the title, the 21-year-old is now poised to reclaim the second spot. He will rise to 7,720 points in the updated rankings, surpassing the German ace Alexander Zverev, who faltered in the second round at Monte Carlo and dropped to 7,595 points.

It’s a symbolic shift that highlights Alcaraz’s resurgence after a turbulent stretch on the tour following his indoor triumph in Rotterdam earlier this year. The Monte Carlo crown plays a crucial role in narrowing the gap to the current top seed, Jannik Sinner. By securing the full 1,000 points on offer, Alcaraz has made up significant ground, especially considering he missed the tournament last year.

Meanwhile, Sinner, absent from Monte Carlo because of an ongoing suspension, will lose 400 SF points from 2023, bringing his total to 9,930. Though still maintaining a comfortable 2,210-point lead, the momentum appears to be shifting in Alcaraz’s favor as the clay season unfolds.

In addition to his first Monte Carlo triumph, which propelled him to second place, the Spaniard also shared his celebratory comments, signaling his return to winning form. 

“Hard work pays off,” Carlos Alacarz shares his opinion after the Monte Carlo triumph

The Monte Carlo final wasn’t straightforward for Alcaraz. Lorenzo Musetti burst out of the gates, playing with flair and aggression to take the opening set. He broke back immediately after an early strike by the Spaniard and controlled much of the baseline exchanges, sealing the set with precision, 7 winners to 6 unforced errors. But Alcaraz responded dominantly. He stepped closer to the baseline, improved his serve percentage to 78, and turned up the pressure, forcing Musetti into nine unforced errors in the second set. 

By the decider, Musetti was visibly struggling with injury and couldn’t move freely, trailing 0-5 during the changeover. Alcaraz stayed composed throughout, eventually sealing the win in one hour and 54 minutes. With the crowd roaring on the iconic Court Rainier III, the Spaniard celebrated what he called his biggest triumph of the season.

“I am really happy to win Monte-Carlo for the first time. It has been a really difficult week with a lot of difficult situations. I am proud with how I dealt with everything. It has been a difficult month for me, so coming here and seeing the hard work pay off makes me happy,” Carlos said.

Next up for Alcaraz is the Madrid Open, where he has already lifted the trophy twice. With him finding his rhythm on clay-court, the big question looms: can Carlitos triumph once again on home soil and build strong momentum heading into Roland Garros? What do you think?