Carlos Alcaraz ready to ‘get socks dirty again’ with return to clay at Monte Carlo
The 22-year-old Spaniard hopes to play a full clay-court schedule before Roland Garros, where the main draw begins on May 24
Carlos Alcaraz said he was eager to get his socks dirty on clay again as the world No 1 returned to his preferred surface in Monaco this week to build momentum for his French Open title defence.
Alcaraz won his fifth grand slam title by beating Jannik Sinner in an epic final at Roland Garros last June, adding to his 2025 clay-court triumphs in Monte Carlo and Rome and a runner-up finish in Barcelona.
“This is probably one of the best times of the season for me,” Alcaraz said.
“I miss clay every time the clay season is over. It’s been a long time since Roland Garros that I haven’t touched clay. In my first practices, I said to my team that it’s time to get the socks dirty again. It feels amazing to be back on clay.”
Alcaraz, who missed last year’s Madrid Open due to injury, hoped to play a full schedule before Roland Garros, where the main draw begins on May 24.
“Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome ... that’s the plan,” the 22-year-old said.