Carlos Alcaraz said he would welcome the chance to soil his socks on clay again as the world number one re-acquainted himself with his favoured surface in Monaco this week to try and generate some momentum for his French Open title defence.
Alcaraz secured his fifth Grand Slam title by defeating Jannik Sinner in an epic final at Roland Garros last June, with victories on the clay courts of Monte Carlo and Rome and a second-place finish in Barcelona to bring his 2025 tally to five.
“This is quite the best time of the season for me,” Alcaraz said in response to a question from reporters here on Sunday.
“I always miss clay when the clay season ends. I hadn’t played on clay since Roland Garros. In the first practices I told my team it’s time to soil the socks again.» It feels so good to be back on clay.”
Alcaraz, who missed the Madrid Open last year through injury, wanted to play a full schedule before Roland Garros — whose main draw starts on May 24.
“Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome … the plan,” said the 22-year-old.
“It’s very physically and mentally demanding. The week in Barcelona is probably when I should have a break, but for me I need individual weeks, maybe around events, you know, but yeah of course Barcelona is very important tournament for me.”
“I plan to take care of my body as much during the matches and tournaments.
Seven-time grand slam champion, winning the Monte Carlo title ended up being a pivotal moment last season.
“I was just kind of better and better after that feeling I had here,” he added.
“I had an understanding and knew what I was going to do after this week. That is why I had an incredible year.”
Alcaraz will start his campaign against either Stan Wawrinka or Sebastian Baez in the second round.