Grand Slam champion tells Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner: Your no.1 fight ‘means nothing’
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have booked their spots in the Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finals, setting up the possibility of their first meeting of the year if both win again. Alcaraz is set to face Valentin Vacherot, while Sinner will be up against Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final. Sinner could also replace Alcaraz as World No.
1 if he finishes ahead of him in Monaco, adding another layer to an already intriguing tournament. The start of 2026 has seen a dramatic shift at the top of men’s tennis with Jannik Sinner breaking into the very top tier and threatening to overtake Carlos Alcaraz as world number one for the first time. Sinner clinched his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and then added titles in Rotterdam and Miami early this year.
Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images Alcaraz and Sinner focused on more than just the No. 1 ranking Paul Annacone, speaking to The Tennis Channel, said that both players are more focused on winning the event itself than taking over the top ranking. “At the forefront of both their minds is just trying to win the tournament this week.
It’s a byproduct of what they’re doing,” he explained. “I think most of the great players at this stage, if it’s not their first time touching number one, then they’re like ‘Whatever happens during the year happens’. Let me see what happens throughout my year.
“At the end of the year, I want to be number one, but right now, if I lose it, is that disappointment? Sure, but it’s not a big deal. It’s right now.