“No matter what happens on court — if I win, if I lose — I just have to leave the court happy,” was Carlos Alcaraz’s mantra in The Principality last week that led him to a maiden Monte Carlo Masters triumph. With this, the four-time Slam champion made one thing very clear: when stakes are high, you can’t write Alcaraz off. Even with Jannik Sinner, his chief rival, out of the picture due to suspension – a situation that piled on the pressure to reclaim the top spot – Alcaraz’s triumph in Monaco speaks volumes. Did it get him back to No. 1? Not yet. Does he seem bothered? Not a bit. And that’s precisely the intriguing point former ATP pro Andy Roddick is about to unpack.

Ever since Sinner was handed a 3-month ban, following a doping controversy, back in February, Alcaraz has been under pressure. “A lot of people are asking me, or are telling me, that I have the chance to become number one if Jannik isn’t playing,” the Spaniard revealed ahead of his Monte Carlo campaign, as reported by Independent on April 7.

The burden of expectations grew so much that the former World No.1 lost his focus. Instead of enjoying his performances, he perhaps concentrated on winning the trophies in order to reduce the ranking gap between him and Sinner. Result?

After clinching his maiden ATP title of 2025, in Rotterdam, Alcaraz failed to grab any other trophy in three successive events. He couldn’t go beyond the QF in Doha. Then, he crumbled in the SF in Indian Wells, missing out on pulling off a three-peat. And better not to talk about Miami, where he crashed out in the opening round itself.

In an episode of the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, dated April 14, the 2003 US Open winner said, “I like how all we’re talking about this year is how Carlos has struggled a little bit.” But he reminded that “by the way, he’s number one in the race (ATP Finals). And I understand Jannik Sinner has been suspended.” Roddick believes there’s a different perspective that needs to be looked at. And what’s that?

“I’m just saying we’re now judging this kid against his own massive shadow.” Reflecting on Alcaraz’s phenomenal tennis skills, he added, “I don’t think anyone on earth doubts that even if he plays badly for two or three weeks, that he can’t catch form very quickly in a match or two and flip the script and win a Masters 1000 title.” Reiterating his sentiments, very clearly, he concluded, “We didn’t need him to prove anything to us this week, but he just showed us again, bet against me at your own risk.”

After clinching the title in The Principality on Sunday, defeating Lorenzo Musetti in the final, Alcaraz revealed the “one thing that I learned the last month is I have to think about myself,” reported ATP’s website after his big win. “I’m proud about everything I have done. So that’s something that I learned, and I think I did it this week and it paid off. It did indeed, and how!

Apart from lifting his sixth Masters 1000 trophy, Alcaraz has also witnessed a massive boost in the ATP rankings.

Monte Carlo victory propels Carlos Alcaraz back to where he was last year

It was only at the Monte Carlo – an event he never won before – that Alcaraz realized where he was going wrong. Turns out, it was the joy of playing that was missing.

“Something that I realised that I had to do is not think about anything else but enjoying. So I’m not thinking about the ranking anymore,” said Carlos Alcaraz after winning the Monte Carlo Masters. Despite him not being enthusiastic about the positions, he’s got a promotion.

Thanks to the triumph in The Principality, the Spaniard is now No.2 again. This marks Alcaraz’s return to the Top 2 for the first time since the week of October 28th last year, when he was also ranked No. 2 (ending a 23-week streak at No. 3). This is also his 89th career week within the Top 2, adding to his 36 weeks at No. 1 and now totaling 53 weeks at No. 2.

Alcaraz’s title win on Sunday has earned him 1,000 ranking points. Now his total has reached to 7,720 from 6,720 points. This also shrinks his ranking deficit to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner from 3,610 points (10,330 to 6,720) to a closer 2,210 points (9,930 to 7,720). This reduction is partly due to Sinner, who was defending semifinal points in Monte Carlo but was unable to participate this year due to a current three-month suspension.

However, Alcaraz can’t get to the No.1 spot right now. But if he wins the next two events in Barcelona and Madrid, he can reduce the gap by another big margin. Capturing the titles in the two events will give him 720 points. After which, the Spaniard may have a chance to finally reclaim the prime spot if he also wins the French Open. But he’s definitely “not thinking about the ranking anymore”. What are your thoughts on his newfound approach? Let us know in the comments below.