Carlos Alcaraz got off to the perfect start to his clay season after defeating Sebastian Baez 6-1 6-3 in just over an hour in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The Spaniard dominated from the outset, racing through the first set with ease. Although his level dipped slightly in the second set, he still had far too much quality for Baez, sealing a comfortable win to kick off his title defense.
Alcaraz Addresses Ranking Pressure
The World No. 1 enters this clay season under significant pressure, having accumulated a huge number of ranking points during last year’s clay swing. However, Alcaraz made it clear that his focus lies elsewhere, emphasizing improvement over rankings. Speaking after the match, he said:
“To be honest, I’m gonna lose the No.1 of the world. I don’t know if it’s gonna be in this tournament or the next one. I’m defending a bunch of points and it’s gonna be really difficult to defend all. If I defend them, Jannik is going to add some points in this tournament [as] he doesn’t have to defend points in this tournament. So I will try to play my best and let’s see what happens. But obviously of course for me the number one spot is not in my mind right now. I’m just trying to feel as good as I can on clay court and let’s see what’s gonna be the clay swing.”
This viewpoint has been consistent from Alcaraz for over a year. Even after his title run in Melbourne to start 2026, he stressed that his current priority is the process and improvement, rather than results.
Sinner Makes Strong Monte Carlo Start
As for the man who could potentially take over the top ranking, Jannik Sinner also began his Monte Carlo Masters campaign in dominant fashion.
The Italian cruised to a 6-3 6-0 victory, showcasing his elite serving and backhand, just a week after his title run in Miami. With the two yet to face each other this season, both players appear to be on a potential collision course in Monte Carlo if they maintain this level, setting up what could be another blockbuster chapter in their growing rivalry.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – Imagn Images
