Carlos Alcaraz says sealing his place as the top seed at this year’s French Open will not change his focus for the upcoming Grand Slam which will begin later this month.
The 20-year-old has guaranteed his return to world No.1 on Monday after winning his opening match at the Italian Open where he defeated Albert Romos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-1. Alcaraz has no points to defend at the Masters 1000 event where he is making his debut. Therefore, any points he wins are added to his tally. In contrast, current world No.1 Novak Djokovic is defending 1000 points in Rome as the defending champion and can’t add to his points tally.
Roland Garros will be the first Grand Slam where Alcaraz will be the top seed. This year will also be only the third time he has played in the main draw of the event with his best run occurring in 2022 when he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Alexander Zverev. Excluding 14-time champion Rafael Nadal, the last Spanish man to win the title was Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003 who is now Alcaraz’s coach.
“It’s great to be the number one seed at Roland Garros, in a Grand Slam, it’s something crazy,” Alcaraz said after beating Ramos-Vinolas on Saturday. “I wouldn’t have believed it years ago, but yes, I’m very happy.
“It doesn’t change too much to be the number one or number two seed — I just focus on the tournament, on my game, on every match, and that’s something that I try not to think about.
“But of course, it’s something great.”
Alcaraz is one of two players so far this season to have won four ATP titles along with Daniil Medvedev. Two of his triumphs have been in Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Madrid. He has also won trophies in Buenos Aires and Barcelona. The Spaniard has already broken a series of records in his career, including becoming the youngest year-end No.1 in history.
“I grew up a lot in a year,” he said of his rise in tennis. “I have more experience. I have played great matches. I grew up thanks to that a lot. I’m more mature as well.
“I would say in just a year I’m a totally different player. I read the match better than last year. I would say this year is totally different for me.”
In Rome, Alcaraz will next play either Australian Open quarter-finalist Jiří Lehečka or Hungarian qualifier Fábián Marozsán whose match was suspended on Saturday due to poor weather.
