TENNIS: Chance to reclaim top rank is extra motivation for Alcaraz in Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz said the chance to quickly regain the world No. 1 ranking from rival Jannik Sinner is giving him extra motivation heading into the Barcelona Open, although he stressed that steady improvement during the clay-court season remains his main focus.

Alcaraz lost both his Monte Carlo Masters title and the top ranking to Sinner after the final in Monaco on Sunday. However, the Spaniard now has an immediate opportunity to reclaim No. 1 if he wins in Barcelona, a tournament where he has previously enjoyed success.

His chances were further boosted by Sinner’s absence from the draw, with the Italian opting to take a short break after a dominant run that included titles at the Indian Wells Open, Miami Open, and Monte Carlo.

“I won’t miss him this week,” Alcaraz said with a smile during his pre-tournament press conference on Monday, noting that winning in Barcelona would be enough to return to the top of the rankings.

He added that the rivalry between the two has become a key source of motivation, but emphasized that his primary goal is continuous improvement in training and competition rather than rankings alone.

Alcaraz begins his Barcelona campaign against Otto Virtanen later on Tuesday. He will remain world No. 2 if he fails to capture the title.

Looking ahead, the 22-year-old is expected to play a full clay-court schedule, with upcoming tournaments in Madrid and Rome at the Madrid Open and Italian Open before defending his crown at the French Open in Paris.

Despite the disappointment of losing to Sinner in Monte Carlo, Alcaraz said the rivalry is helping push him to improve.

“Sinner is one of those players who makes me better,” he said. “He helps me see what I need to work on every day.”

He added that watching Sinner’s success motivates him to raise his own level as the rivalry continues to develop on tour. -Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher Cushing/Reuters