Carlos Alcaraz Eagerly Awaits Monte-Carlo Masters Clay-Court Season
Synopsis
Carlos Alcaraz is back in Monte Carlo, ready to defend his title and kick off his clay-court season. With a strong track record on clay, he reflects on his journey and aims to improve with each match.
Key Takeaways
Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion at the Monte-Carlo Masters .
He has a remarkable 84.4% win rate on clay courts.
Alcaraz is focused on improving his game rather than the pressure of being a defending champion.
The clay-court season holds significant sentimental value for him.
His journey in Monte-Carlo could be pivotal for his season ahead.
Monaco, April 6 (NationPress) The top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz is thrilled to kick off his clay-court season at the Monte-Carlo Masters, expressing that, "Being in Monaco as the defending champion is not something that crosses my mind." This marks Alcaraz's third appearance in Monte-Carlo, where he holds the title at this prestigious clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event. In 2025, he commenced his clay-court journey following back-to-back losses to Jack Draper at Indian Wells and David Goffin in Miami, yet he turned things around from his arrival in the Principality, achieving an impressive 33 wins in his following 34 matches.
"I’m genuinely delighted to return to Monte-Carlo, the first tournament of the clay season for me, which feels fantastic," Alcaraz shared with ATP Media on Thursday. "I truly missed it. I'm going to savor every moment on this beautiful surface at this remarkable tournament."
"Being here as the defending champion isn’t something I’m focusing on at all. I’m just aiming to maintain a positive mindset and continuously improve with each practice session, and we’ll see where that leads," he added.
Reflecting on the previous year, he said, "This week was immensely significant for me. I would identify it as the turning point of 2025. After my experience here, my performance improved significantly. I learned how to play effectively following this week, which led to an extraordinary year thereafter. I recall not performing at my best, but everything that followed was remarkable for me," he noted.
Clay courts have historically favored Alcaraz, boasting an 84.4% match win rate on this surface, according to ATP Stats. Only Rafael Nadal (90.5%) and Bjorn Borg (86.1%) have higher percentages, making this an excellent chance for the Spaniard to regain momentum following a third-round exit in Miami against Sebastian Korda.
"I began my tennis journey on clay courts. From the age of four, I trained exclusively on clay until I was eight years old when I barely played on hard courts, so my foundation is deeply rooted in clay," Alcaraz explained.
"That’s why I relish the clay season, but once it concludes, it feels like an eternity until I can play on it again, which is quite a long wait for me," he concluded.
Alcaraz, currently vying for the World No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings alongside Jannik Sinner, is set to face either former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka or Sebastian Baez in the second round.
Point of View
Carlos Alcaraz's return to the Monte-Carlo Masters is a significant event in the tennis world, showcasing not only his resilience but also his dedication to the sport. His journey illustrates the intense competition at the top levels of tennis and highlights his commitment to excellence.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carlos Alcaraz's win rate on clay?
Carlos Alcaraz has an impressive win rate of 84.4% on clay courts.
Who will Alcaraz face in the second round?
Carlos Alcaraz is set to face either Stan Wawrinka or Sebastian Baez in the second round.
