‘Everything came so fast’ – Alcaraz on his surprise rise to top of the world

The world No 1 knows his rise to the top was unexpectedly rapid, but says there is no pressure on him at the moment

Carlos Alcaraz with his world No 1 trophy )Federico Pestellini/Panoramic)

October 31, 2022

Carlos Alcaraz is in pole position to seal the year-end world No 1 spot – but the teenager admits that his rapid rise to the top this year has taken him somewhat by surprise.

Alcaraz: There’s no pressure

Alcaraz was presented with his world No 1 trophy on the court in Paris, where he begins his campaign on Wednesday against Yoshihito Nishioka.

He is the top seed but arrives in France in uncertain form since his sensational US Open triumph. Since his maiden Grand Slam victory, he lost in his opening match in Astana against David Goffin 7-5, 6-3 – and although he reached the semi-finals in Basel, his straight-sets defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-3, 6-2, came as a shock.

A special day! 😀 Today I received the world number one trophy in Paris! 🏆 I should find somewhere to put it, no? 😜 @atptour pic.twitter.com/Idn6VYr3Xe
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) October 31, 2022

But he refused to accept that he has any pressure on him as the frontrunner going into Paris and then the ATP Finals.

“I don’t feel the pressure,” he said. “I just put that goal myself, you know, to end [the year] as the No 1.

“But of course [it] is [a] really tough one. There [are] great players behind me, and, yeah, they have the chances, as well.

“So I don’t take that as a pressure. Just trying to show my best in every tournament to, I mean, keep playing, you know, keep going up. And yeah, that’s what I am. Just enjoy playing tennis, and the pressure is a part.”