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Alcaraz Shifts to Clay in El Palmar Ahead of Monte Carlo Title Defense

The world No. 1 starts a targeted reset to protect key ranking points through the European clay run.

Overview

  • Carlos Alcaraz returned to clay at Real Sociedad Club de Campo in Murcia, his first sessions on the surface since winning Roland Garros 2025.
  • He plans four to five days of on-site practice before opening his Monte Carlo title defense next week.
  • The European clay stretch now carries heavy ranking stakes, with 1,000 points in Monte Carlo, 330 in Barcelona, 1,000 in Rome, and 2,000 at Roland Garros to defend.
  • The shift follows a blazing start that included the Australian Open and Doha titles and a 16-match streak before losses to Daniil Medvedev and Sebastian Korda in the U.S. events.
  • Martín Landaluce, fresh off a Miami quarterfinal, is training at the same Murcia club and heads to a Challenger 125 in Monza to press for a top-100 debut.