Alcaraz focused on form, not rankings, after Indian Wells quarterfinal win

INDIAN WELLS, California: World number three Carlos Alcaraz has made it clear that reclaiming the top spot in the ATP rankings is not his immediate priority as he looks to maintain his best form without added pressure.

The Spaniard cruised into the Indian Wells quarter-finals with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Grigor Dimitrov. Alcaraz, 21, is aiming to win his third consecutive title at the tournament, a feat previously achieved only by Roger Federer (2004-06) and Novak Djokovic (2014-16).

While victory at Indian Wells will not be enough to overtake Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the rankings, it would put Alcaraz in a strong position heading into the European clay-court season, where he will defend his French Open crown.

“I’m not thinking much about recovering the number one in two or three months. That could make me feel extra pressure,” Alcaraz said.

The former world number one, who previously held the top spot for 36 weeks, appears focused on fine-tuning his game rather than chasing rankings—an approach that could serve him well in the crucial months ahead.(Reuters)