8th May, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz is excited to return to Italy next week for the first time in his career to compete in the Rome Masters and reclaim the world number-one spot from Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz only needs to show up and play in Rome to leapfrog Djokovic after retaining his title in Madrid on Sunday by defeating lucky loser Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Rankings are determined by the number of points earned at each tournament, which expire each year.
To keep the points earned at an event, a player must at least match the previous year’s total.
Due to an ankle injury, Alcaraz missed the Rome Masters last year, so he has no points to defend, whereas Djokovic won in Rome last year and thus cannot defend.
With only five points separating the two players in the next set of rankings, Alcaraz will jump ahead of the Serbian even if he loses at the first hurdle in Rome.
After an injury-plagued start to the season, Alcaraz says he is 100 percent and thinking big as he prepares for the French Open, which begins on May 28.
“I am an ambitious guy and I’m going full for the win in Rome,” Alcaraz told a news conference on Sunday.
“What I am achieving is something big. I just have won my 10th title, my fourth Masters 1000, back-to-back titles here in Madrid and very close to reclaiming the number one world spot.
“It’s a special moment and I’m very proud of what I am accomplishing. The work I’m putting in.”
“I know I have an ability to play good in the important moments,” Alcaraz said. “I am a player who grows under pressure, in the big stage, and I like to do different things in those moments. To adapt to what my opponents bring to me.
“I am a finals’ player: I played 13 finals and won 10.”