Sinner Gains Momentum in Pursuit of World No 1 Spot as Alcaraz Faces Pressure at Monte-Carlo Masters

"I'm at risk of losing my number one spot" - Carlos Alcaraz acknowledges his grip on the top ranking is under threat at the Monte-Carlo Masters, with Jannik Sinner closing in. Sinner marked his return to European clay with an 18th consecutive match win and 36th straight set at Masters 1000 level, beating Ugo Humbert 6-3 6-0 in just 61 minutes. The Italian, who recently achieved the 'Sunshine Double' without dropping a set, carried his momentum onto clay with confidence. The current rankings stand at 1. Carlos Alcaraz - 2950, 2. Jannik Sinner - 2900, and 3. Daniil Medvedev - 1700. Sinner's swift victory over Humbert would have impressed even the legendary sprinter Usain Bolt, who watched from the stands. "It was a good performance from me," Sinner said, adding, "You have to adjust your game style and approach on clay." Alcaraz secured a 6-1 6-3 win over Sebastian Baez in just 69 minutes, matching his longest clay-court winning streak set in 2022. "It's been a great start for me," Alcaraz said, "I'm happy with my level, though I could have done better in the second set." With Sinner threatening to overtake him, Alcaraz is aware of the challenge ahead. "I will lose the number one spot eventually; I don't know if it will be here or elsewhere. I'm focused on playing my best and seeing how the clay season unfolds, rather than worrying about the ranking," Alcaraz stated. Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie exited the tournament after a three-set loss to Alex De Minaur, despite forcing a decider after dropping the first set.