Carlos Alcaraz has set several goals for the remainder of the 2024 season, and one of them is to reclaim the top spot in the world rankings, despite facing tough competition from Jannik Sinner. Achieving the status of world number one is not new to Alcaraz, but he is determined to surpass his previous accomplishments. He aims to hold the top position multiple times in his career, and this year presents a promising opportunity. Currently, the Spaniard trails Sinner by a mere 450 points in the Live Race to Turin.
Although the point difference may seem significant, there are still several major events scheduled until the end of the year. Alcaraz has been outperforming Sinner in recent weeks, and if he maintains his form and remains injury-free, he stands a good chance of overtaking Sinner as the frontrunner in the Race to Turin. Alcaraz has made it clear that this goal holds great importance to him. Prior to the Cincinnati Open, he expressed his unwavering focus on achieving this feat. Consistency is key when it comes to rankings, and Alcaraz understands the significance of consistently delivering exceptional performances.
“Being ranked number one is always a goal for me, especially in the race. Ending the year as the number one in the rankings is quite similar, so ultimately, the goal is to be the overall number one. I am fully committed to making that happen.”
He further emphasized his dedication, stating, “My focus is on every tournament, aiming to play exceptional tennis and achieve good results to improve my position in the race. Ending the year as the number one is currently one of my primary objectives. I am eagerly looking forward to accomplishing it.” A strong performance in Cincinnati could significantly enhance Alcaraz’s chances, especially considering Sinner’s recent return from illness and underwhelming performance in Montreal. Although Sinner had two decent matches, he suffered a defeat against Andrey Rublev, proving that he is beatable. Additionally, Alcaraz’s previous success in the Cincinnati final demonstrates his affinity for the tournament.
A successful campaign in Cincinnati, whether reaching the final or even securing the title, would be a major stride towards securing the year-end number one ranking. While the US Open holds the most weight in terms of points allocation among the remaining events, Alcaraz has chosen to focus on the upcoming tournament.
“I am fighting to become the number one in the race, and that is something I am eager to achieve as soon as possible, if not in the near future. This tournament holds immense importance for me, and it has always been a favorable event. I will strive to maintain the same level of play and let’s see what unfolds.”
Photo from Sinner Instagram
