"He has already been number one": Carlos Alcaraz should relax about returning atop ATP Rankings says Alex Corretja

2-times French Open finalist Alex Corretja advised Carlos Alcaraz to take the goal of reaching the ATP No. 1 ranking with calmness. The former Spanish tennis player expressed that Alcaraz should focus on his matches and not become obsessed with reaching the top of the rankings.

The young star finished 2023 just 2,390 points behind Novak Djokovic, but he will have the opportunity to regain the ATP No. 1 spot at the Australian Open. Djokovic is defending his title, while Alcaraz doesn't have any points to defend since he didn't participate last year. Winning the title in Melbourne could potentially propel him back to the top of the rankings.

In an interview with Eurosport, the former Davis Cup captain analyzed what lies ahead for Alcaraz less than two weeks before the Tour resumes. Corretja emphasized that Alcaraz should concentrate on each match and not become overly focused on accumulating points:

"I think Carlos has to relax about number one. He has already been number one. He has already proven to himself that he can be at the top of the ranking, and now we have to wait for the moment. You should not get obsessed with that: it can make you play tournaments that under normal conditions you would not play."

"The number one will come as a consequence of your results, but I don't think it should be a goal: it may be an illusion, but it generates an extra tension that I don't believe 'Let him compensate you," former world No. 2 added.

Alcaraz will have a good opportunity to accumulate points at the beginning of the 2024 season, considering that he skipped the Australian tournaments last year and started his season only in mid-February at the Argentinian Open due to an injury.

The Spanish player has carefully planned his calendar, participating only in the Australian Open in January. After that, he will travel to South America to compete in the ATP 250 Argentinian Open (where he is defending the title) and the ATP 500 Rio Open (where he is defending the final). Following this, Alcaraz will fly to the United States to play the 'Sunshine Double' in Indian Wells and the Miami Open.