Carlos Alcaraz says he is ‘happy’ with his current level on the Tour and has taken a swipe at those who have questioned some of his performances so far this season.
The world No.3 heads into his first clay event of 2025 with a win-loss record of 15-4 since January. He has reached the quarter-finals or better in four out of his last five tournaments played, winning the Rotterdam Open in February. At the Miami Open, he suffered his first loss to a player ranked outside the top 50 since September after getting beaten by David Goffin in his opening match. Alcaraz’s other three losses were to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, Jiri Lehecka in Doha and Jack Draper in Indian Wells.
“I am really happy with the way I am playing,” Alcaraz told reporters in Monte-Carlo.
“Since I started the year I have been playing great tennis. Tennis is not just about hitting the ball. It is about more than that. It is about mentality, physical side.
“With my game I am really happy about it. If I don’t win it doesn’t matter if I play well or not. People are not thinking about the opponent, they are just thinking about me. If I lose something is going on people say. I don’t think that is fair. I am just happy and ready to play well on clay.”
The 21-year-old goes on to say that more appreciation should be shown towards the guys who have beaten him and their level. Describing every tournament he plays as ‘very open.’
“A lot of people might have said we should have played better tennis or won more tournaments but I don’t think that is fair,” he commented.
“I think the draw in every tournament is very open and a lot of players are playing good tennis and they deserve to be there.
“There are so many players who play well on clay and on all surfaces. In the clay season I think it is going to be interesting. I see a lot of players who are capable of doing great things on clay.”
Alcaraz is only making his second appearance in Monte Carlo after missing the past two editions. In 2023 he was sidelined from action due to post-traumatic arthritis in his left hand and muscular discomfort in his spine. Meanwhile, last year a right arm injury forced him to withdraw.
Should he win the title, he would follow in the footsteps of his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who won the title twice, and Rafael Nadal who is the only player to have won it 11 times.
Alcaraz’s opening match will be against either Fabio Fognini or Francisco Cerúndolo.
