Carlos Alcaraz admits the nerves crept in before breaking the duck at Monte Carlo in a three-set win over Francisco Cerundolo
Carlos Alcaraz is hoping to join Rafael Nadal in the list of Spanish champions at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters.
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Carlos Alcaraz (Image via @alcarchive)
Carlos Alcaraz admitted he felt a few butterflies before playing his opening round in Monte Carlo against Francisco Cerundolo. The nerves likely grew after he lost the first set, but he eventually came through with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 win to begin his Monte Carlo campaign.
Surprisingly, this was Alcaraz’s first-ever match win at Monte Carlo. He had a 0-1 record at the event, but that changed after his victory over Cerundolo. The Spaniard said that the match became easier once he was able to take control.
I won’t say I was nervous about it, but yes, it’s one of the few tournaments where I haven’t won any matches, so I feel great. I finally got my first victory and I move on. As I said, this is a very nice tournament where I want to go far, and yes, I think this year it’s a relief to have achieved my first win.
Carlos Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference
Alcaraz is looking to get his 2025 season back on track after a tough hard court stretch. He has won only one ATP title this year, which came at the Rotterdam Open. He also lost in the Australian Open quarterfinals and failed to defend his Indian Wells title.
With Spain’s strong tradition on clay, Alcaraz will hope to follow in those footsteps. He plans to use the three Masters 1000 tournaments and the Barcelona Open to prepare for Roland Garros, where he will be the defending champion.
All you should know about Carlos Alcaraz’s documentary
World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz’s impressive 2024 season will soon be featured in a new documentary. Titled Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, the film will give fans a closer look at the life and rise of the young tennis star. Alcaraz, now one of the biggest names in sports, is the focus of this Netflix production.
The documentary is set to release on April 23, 2025. Alcaraz hinted at the date with a mysterious tattoo on his arm during the Indian Wells tournament, which was later confirmed by Netflix. The film is directed by Jorge Laplace, known for his work on Locomia and La Liga: All Access. Producers include Juan Gordon and Alex Martinez Roig.
While full details are still under wraps, some clips have been shared ahead of the release. One scene shows Alcaraz in his childhood bedroom, admiring his trophies from the 2022 US Open and 2023 Wimbledon. He still lives there when not traveling for tournaments.
Filming for the documentary began at The Netflix Slam, an exhibition match between Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal on March 3, 2024. Since then, cameras have followed him through key moments of the 2024 season, offering a behind-the-scenes view of his journey.
Carlos Alcaraz in the entry list for Rome
Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz will aim to win his first Italian Open title at the 2025 edition of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome. The Spaniard is also chasing his third Masters 1000 crown on clay, adding to his titles in Madrid.
The tournament will run from May 7 to May 18 and marks its 82nd edition. It’s one of the most important clay events ahead of Roland Garros. Alcaraz, along with many top players, is looking to fine-tune his game on the red dirt.
Jannik Sinner is also making headlines as he prepares for his return. The world No. 1 has been out since January, when he won the Australian Open. He served a three-month suspension after two positive doping tests in March.
Sinner’s suspension ends on May 4, just in time for the Rome event. His comeback on home soil is highly anticipated. Defending champion Alexander Zverev, who beat Nicolas Jarry in last year’s final, will also be back to defend his title.
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