After a rather anticlimactic end to his Sunshine Double campaign, Carlos Alcaraz is back in Monte Carlo to begin his 2026 clay season. The world #1, who won this very event last year to spark a run that saw him claim three of the next four Major titles, including the French Open in thrilling fashion, is set to begin his title defence on Tuesday against Sebastian Baez.
“It Feels Amazing to Be Back on Clay”
Ahead of his opening match, Alcaraz spoke to the media about how he is feeling ahead of a pivotal stretch of the season—one in which he enters as the consensus best player on clay. To begin, Alcaraz admitted how much he had missed the surface, which he believes is one of the very best in tennis.
“It’s probably one of the best surfaces, for sure. I miss Clay every time the season ends. I really miss it. It had been a long time since I’d played on clay, so it was starting to feel like a long time. The first sessions I did were to get back into it, to tell myself: ‘That’s it, it’s time to get those socks dirty again.’ Honestly, it feels amazing to be back on clay.”
The Spaniard plans to play five events during the clay swing, meaning he will have little to no time off between tournaments leading up to the French Open.
“Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome… that’s the idea. It’s very demanding physically and mentally. The week in Barcelona is perhaps when I should rest, but Barcelona is a very important tournament for me. I have a special feeling there; I was already playing there when I was under 14. I have many friends there, I play at home, so it’s always special.”
Fitness is the Priority
Last year, Alcaraz attempted a similarly packed schedule but picked up an injury after Barcelona, forcing him to withdraw from the Madrid Masters. This time, however, his primary goal is to take care of his body to ensure he can compete without limitations throughout the clay swing.
“My plan is to take care of my body as much as possible during matches and tournaments, and to play the entire season on clay.”
With these goals in mind, the world #1 will look for a strong start against the capable clay-courter Baez to kick off his Monte Carlo campaign—an event where he is not only defending his title but also aiming to retain his #1 ranking.
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
