World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz said the pressure to regain the top rankings when the banned Janik Thinner was not around, “killed” him, saying he would approach clay season without expecting.
The top-ranked sinner has served a three-month doping ban, ending May 4th, and while Alcaraz was considered one of the candidates to replace the Italians in the rankings at the French Open next month, he has not made the most of his opportunity.
“A lot of people are asking me, or telling me, or saying that if Janik isn’t playing, I have a chance to go first,” said the 21-year-old Alcaraz, who began preparing for Roland Garros’ title defense in Monte Carlo.
“So perhaps the pressure killed me in some way.”
The Spaniard won the first title of the season at Rotterdam two months ago, then sat back over 3,500 points to Thinner after losing in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells and the quarter-finals of Doha, the opening round of last week in Miami.
Alexander Zverev is almost 1,000 points ahead of Alkaraz in second place.
Alcaraz told reporters on Sunday that he would not focus on the top rankings heading towards Monte Carlo. There he would first take on Italian wildcard Fabio Fognini or Francisco Cerundo.
“I just don’t think I’m going to be number one in the clay season, and I don’t have the opportunity to do that, even if Janik isn’t playing,” Alcaraz said.
“I think I’m too far from Janik, so I realized that I’m just here and there and don’t have to think about it and go there and play. That’s what I think right now.”