Carlos Alcaraz is approaching the European clay court season with a dilemma: whether to play four consecutive tournaments or conserve himself for Roland Garros. Playing in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome poses a real physical risk before Roland Garros. However, not participating could cost him the number one ranking to Jannik Sinner.
The Pressure to Play Everything
Alcaraz’s coach, Samu López, admitted that the ideal plan would have been to skip Monte Carlo had things gone better in Miami. López stated that the initial idea is always to play everything and complete the entire season. The number one player is confirmed to play in Monaco, the Trofeo Conde de Godó in Barcelona, the Mutua Madrid Open, and the Masters 1000 in Rome. This would mean a month and a half without rest, until 17 May.
If Alcaraz were to win every match, he would play 22 matches in 40 days. This is a huge workload, especially considering previous issues.
The Risk of Physical and Mental Exhaustion
López commented on Alcaraz’s desperation in his last match against Sebastian Korda, saying that Alcaraz needs to control his impulses, but it is a way for him to express himself and release tension, and that it should not be given too much importance. If the Spaniard attempts to compete in all four competitions, he risks mental exhaustion ahead of the second Grand Slam of the season, or potentially even injury.
Last year, he won the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo and reached the final of the Godó, where he suffered a pull in his right thigh against Holger Rune that prevented him from playing in Madrid. Fortunately, he was later able to compete in Rome and Roland Garros, but the risk was high. In 2024, he could only play in the Mutua due to a right arm injury; in 2023, he skipped Monte Carlo; and in 2022, he did not go to Rome. The initial plan for this season was to miss the event in Monaco, but the loss in Miami forces him to participate, creating uncertainty.
Ranking Implications
During this clay court swing, including Roland Garros, Alcaraz is defending 4,330 points compared to Jannik Sinner’s 1,950. He currently has a 1,190-point advantage. The margin for error is minimal.
- Alcaraz is considering skipping the Godó to rest.
- Another option is to wait and see what happens before potentially withdrawing from Rome later on.
The options of skipping the Godó for rest or waiting to see what happens and withdrawing from Rome later are on the table.