Barcelona, Spain. — Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz assured that the fight for the ATP ranking leadership represents an additional motivation for his participation in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, where he will debut this Tuesday against the Finn Otto Virtanen.
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The Murcian arrives at the tournament after losing the world number one spot following his defeat in the Monte Carlo Masters final against the Italian Jannik Sinner. Even so, he showed focus on regaining his form and fighting for his third title in Barcelona, after being crowned in 2022 and 2023.
"The battle for number one is very nice and will probably be an extra motivation to win here," said Alcaraz, who acknowledges that he needs a great result in the Catalan event to aim to regain the top of the ranking.
Rivalry that drives its growth
Beyond direct competition, Alcaraz highlighted Sinner's positive influence on his development as a player. The Spaniard confessed to admiring the Italian, whom he considers a constant reference for improvement.
"He's a player who makes me see my weaknesses and forces me to be better every day," he stated.
After the defeat in Monte Carlo, the Spaniard's team analyzed the match to identify aspects to correct. According to his explanation, this exercise made it clear that there is still room for improvement in technical and tactical details.
Respect on and off the track
Alcaraz also emphasized the good personal relationship he maintains with Sinner, beyond the intense sporting rivalry.
"We have a lot of respect for each other and that's not going to change off the track, regardless of what we're playing for," he said.
However, he admitted with a laugh that he doesn't mind not coinciding with the Italian in the tournament draw in Barcelona.
Objective: Conquer Godó again
The Conde de Godó Trophy is one of the most special tournaments on Alcaraz's calendar, who seeks to add his third title in the city of Barcelona.
Last year, the Spaniard fell in the final to the Dane Holger Rune, in a match marked by physical problems that later prevented him from competing in Madrid.
Regarding this edition, the tennis player insisted on the importance of going match by match and listening to his body to avoid setbacks.
"Tennis is unpredictable. The important thing is to give your best in each match and then focus on recovery," he concluded.
Alcaraz faces the Barcelona tournament with his sights set on the title, but also on continuing to evolve in a season marked by his intense rivalry with Sinner at the top of world tennis.
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