Carlos Alcaraz is turning his attention to the clay court season after a tough stint at the Miami Open.
Last year, the Spaniard had a standout run on clay, taking home titles from Monte Carlo, Rome, and Roland Garros.
This time around, he’s scheduled to arrive in Monte Carlo on April 3rd as he looks to put Miami behind him and defend his title.
Samu Lopez reveals Alcaraz’s approach to clay season
Alcaraz has a full calendar following Monte Carlo, and Lopez provided some insight into why they’re embracing such a busy stretch.
“Okay, so initially we’re going in with the mindset of playing everything, of playing the whole tour, you know?
“I mean, in the end, the Masters 1000s, let’s say that physically they’re not as intense, physically they’re not as intense as when Rafa was playing, when he played every day.”
Alcaraz is expected to compete in Barcelona, Rome and Madrid ahead of Roland Garros.
The extended schedule is partly due to his early exit in Miami. The decision reflects a need for match practice rather than just fitness work.
“The idea is to go to all of them,” Lopez said. “If Monte Carlo had gone well if it had gone better in Miami we probably would have ruled it [Monte Carlo] out. Monte Carlo is going to be a bit of a tune-up tournament.”
The change from one-week Masters events to 10 days has increased the mental demands on players too. Players now need more time between tournaments to recover.
Samu Lopez noted that this format change adds another layer of difficulty for Alcaraz this year.
The pressure isn’t just about defending points; there’s also growing competition at the top. Jannik Sinner could overtake him as world number one if he wins Monte Carlo. It’ll be interesting to see how Alcaraz manages both the physical and mental challenges ahead.
Carlos Alcaraz’s clay court record
He might say clay isn’t his favourite surface but Carlos Alcaraz’s results tell a different story. The Spaniard boasts an impressive 103–19 record on clay which translates into an 84% win rate.
Carlos is looking for consistency ahead of this year’s Roland Garros having struggled with injuries throughout 2024.
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