Alcaraz: ‘It’s Time To Get The Socks Dirty Again’

Carlos Alcaraz loves the clay season. It’s not hard to see why.

In 2025 the Spaniard went on a tear during the clay-court swing, winning titles in Monte-Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros, where he saved three championship points against Jannik Sinner in an epic final. He went 22-1 on the surface, with his only defeat coming to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final.

“This is probably one of the best times of the season for me,” Alcaraz said. “I miss clay every time the clay season is over. It’s been a long time since Roland Garros that I haven’t touched clay. In my first practices I said to my team that it’s time to get the socks dirty again. It feels amazing to be back on clay.”

“The most beautiful tournament we have on tour” 😍

Alcaraz can’t wait to begin his title defence ⚔️@carlosalcaraz #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/aD5M5NKVip

— Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 5, 2026

Twelve months on from the start of his stunning clay-court run, the 22-year-old now faces the flip side of his success as he begins his title defence in the Principality. Alcaraz has more than 4000 points dropping from his ranking during the clay swing and is in danger this week of handing top spot back to Jannik Sinner.

In what would be a blockbuster final if it eventuates, Alcaraz and Sinner would be fighting for World No. 1 along with the trophy. On Monday Alcaraz begins his 66th week at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, exactly the number of weeks that Sinner has been in top spot during his career.

He’s trying to not let the pressure weigh on him.

“I’m not thinking about being the defending champion; it’s just about trying to get a good feeling on clay again,” he said.”

From one talent to another. 🥹 ❤️

World No. 1 @carlosalcaraz stops by to pay respect to David Goffin, who bows out of the #RolexMonteCarloMasters for the final time! pic.twitter.com/QFv88Q5VxY

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 5, 2026

Alcaraz has a bye in the first round and will open against the winner of Argentine Sebastian Baez and 2014 tournament champion Stan Wawrinka. With the 41-year-old Swiss set to retire at the end of the year, Alcaraz said that he would relish the opportunity to play the fellow Roland Garros champion for the first time.

“I would love to play Stan, to be honest, and it could happen here. It depends on him. I had the chance to practise with him yesterday and it was incredible to share the court with him. It’s incredible to still have him around. Hopefully I will get to play against him at least once to be able to say that I played a match against a legend like Stan.”

Alcaraz ran up a 16-match winning streak this year after winning the Australian Open, where he became the youngest men’s player in history to complete the career Grand Slam, Doha and reaching the Indian Wells semi-finals. He fell to Daniil Medvedev in the California desert and then to Sebastian Korda in the third round in Miami.