“I didn’t think about No. 1 at the start”: Carlos Alcaraz reflects on turning point of his season

Carlos Alcaraz received the Year-End No. 1 trophy in the midst of his campaign at the ATP Finals, following his third straight win that guarantees he finishes the year at the top of the rankings. The 6-time major champion defeated Musetti in the final Round Robin match 6–4, 6–1 and secured his passage to the semi-finals as the leader of the Jimmy Connors Group.

This Friday, the Spaniard received the No. 1 trophy in his hands, achieving the feat for the second time in his career. He made clear from the outset that the moment resonated deeply because of what it demanded from him. Alcaraz described the achievement as the payoff for months of sacrifice, commitment, and personal growth in a recent interview with ATP Tour. “All the hard work during the whole season pays off.”

The 22-year-old reflected on the mental and physical grind that shaped his 2025 campaign, a year in which he compiled a 70–8 record and secured eight titles, including the French Open and US Open. While he finished the year in commanding fashion, Alcaraz admitted the journey was filled with demanding stretches, long weeks away from home, and constant challenges to stay positive. “You have a look back at the beginning of the year and see how you did everything, all the work, everything you’ve been through.”

One of the constants throughout his climb was the joy he carries into every match—a trait that has become a signature of his personality on court. “I like to play with joy on the court, off the court… I really want to see life as happiness, and I think that’s the most important thing, to see things always on the positive side.”

That mentality was especially important during the tense race for No. 1 against Jannik Sinner, a battle that stretched through the final weeks of the season. Having already finished as year-end No. 1 once before at just 19 years old in 2022, Alcaraz knew the pressures of the chase—but the stakes and expectations were even higher this time. He credited his team and the support in the stands for helping him stay composed at crucial moments. “Seeing my people there behind me, supporting me, always makes me really, really happy.”

Asked to reflect on when he started believing the year-end No. 1 ranking was realistic, Alcaraz admitted it wasn’t early in the season. The real turning point came months earlier, once the European clay season began. It was at that stage, he explained, that he discovered his rhythm, his confidence, and the clarity he needed to play each tournament with purpose. “At the beginning of the year, I didn’t think about it, because I saw it really far away. But from the middle of the season, when the clay season started, I realised what I had to do and I realised how I should approach every tournament and every match.”

From that moment forward, his performance surged. He began stacking titles, compiling long winning streaks, and stepping into every match with a renewed sense of mission. His success on clay, grass, and hard courts underscored how well he adapted his preparation throughout the year. “I realised how I should approach every tournament and every match.”

The duel with Sinner became one of the defining narratives of the season, with both players forcing each other into new levels of consistency and resilience. Alcaraz described it as a battle that elevated not only their tennis but the excitement around the sport itself. “The fight that I had against Jannik for the number one, I think has been a really beautiful fight for both of us and for the people as well.”

One of the final questions he received was about the names inscribed on the year-end No. 1 trophy—icons of the sport he has admired since childhood. “I only see legends there… putting my name and the name of my family in the same circle as the legends from our sport—it’s a privilege, it’s an honour.”

For Alcaraz, the trophy symbolises more than rankings or victories. It reflects the identity he has built as a competitor and as a person: determined, joyful, grateful, and fearless on the biggest stages. “Whatever it takes just to do what it deserves to be surrounded by legends.”

After winning all three round-robin matches at the ATP Finals against Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, and Lorenzo Musetti, Alcaraz is preparing for his next challenge, against the winner between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime. If he advances, his rival in the final will be De Minaur or Jannik Sinner—though his No. 1 spot is no longer in dispute.