April 6 (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz said ⁠he was eager to get his socks dirty on clay again ⁠as the world number one 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.