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Carlos Alcaraz doubles down on Jannik Sinner claim after admitting he 'caused a stir'

Carlos Alcaraz is convinced that Jannik Sinner will become world No. 1 again and has reinforced his comments that have 'caused a stir' - but vows to fight back for the ATP top ranking

[INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)]

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Carlos Alcaraz has doubled down(Image: Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)

Tennis world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz remains convinced that rival Jannik Sinner will soon snatch his top ranking. The Spaniard conceded earlier in the week that he was "gonna lose the No. 1 of the world" and has since doubled down on those remarks, while warning his competitor that he won't give it up without a fight.

The Australian Open champion faces the challenge of defending thousands of ranking points over the coming weeks, having enjoyed a stellar clay season last year. Alcaraz claimed three titles and a runner-up finish in Barcelona, while Sinner was absent from a portion of the clay court circuit serving a suspension.

That hands Sinner a significant opportunity to boost his points tally simply by taking to the court. Both players have already progressed to the last 16 in Monte Carlo, with Sinner squaring off against Czech star Tomas Machac and Alcaraz taking on Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Alcaraz is already plotting how to sharpen his game to retain his status as the world's finest, despite not yet relinquishing the crown. Speaking to Eurosport, he said: "I have some ideas.

"The serve, obviously. I've already invested so much time in that area, not just on the court but also off it. How to improve the movement, the toss, the technique, the feel. I've really worked on that; it's crucial for me to visualise it both on and off the court.

"Getting back to Jannik and the world number one ranking, I saw that my statement caused a stir. But I mean it. He has several important tournaments coming up where he can earn a lot of points.

"I have to defend some, and I can't defend them all. It's going to be tough, but that's also what makes our rivalry so exciting. He's going to become world number one again, and I'm going to push him as far as I can to take that spot back. This duel for the top spot has been fantastic so far."

Following an early exit in Miami last month, Alcaraz has made a strong start in Monte Carlo. The top seed cruised past Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-3 as he launched his campaign to defend his title.

[Hyundai Card Super Match 14 - Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz]

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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are battling to be No.1(Image: Getty)

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The surprise break gave Alcaraz an opportunity to recharge, and it seems to have paid off. "I played a lot of golf," he disclosed.

"It was non-negotiable. I took five days off completely with my family and friends. For me, that was more than enough.

"Then, I switched back on, I returned to the court to prepare for the clay court season. The transition between hard courts and clay is sometimes complicated, so I wanted to have a good week."

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