The signs were not very positive. “I’m not afraid to say that maybe it was time to rest this week, because we played a Masters 1000 last week [in Monte Carlo] and then come Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros…”, Carlos Alcaraz told Àlex Corretja on Tuesday, after resolving the debut at the Godó against Otto Virtanen and with a gesture that he was not confident. The tennis player had been treated in the ninth game for some “discomfort” in his right wrist that he hoped would remain just that, “discomfort”. The next day he had two hours reserved to train in the morning, from twelve to two, but he did not show up. And around mid-afternoon, a message from the organization anticipated the bad news: “Attention, at five-thirty there will be a statement from Alcaraz.”
Read more Numerology uncovered the 4.7 million Primitiva scam in A Coruña
With a saddened face and accompanied by his agent, also with a serious expression, the Murcian (22 years old) entered the press conference room of the Reial Club de Tennis Barcelona (RCTB) and confirmed the bad omens from a few minutes earlier. This Thursday he will not step onto the court to face the Czech Tomas Machac, as planned. “It’s strange and difficult to sit here for the second time [a similar incident happened two years ago] and announce that I won’t be able to continue in the tournament. As you could already see in the match, after a return my wrist gave out and the pain kept increasing. I thought it wouldn’t be like this, I thought it was just discomfort, but given today’s tests it is a more serious injury than we all expected.”
After being examined by his physical trainer and physiotherapist, Juanjo Moreno, and the subsequent medical review, Alcaraz decided to cancel the training and act accordingly. “I’m going to listen to my body,” he warned two days earlier, upon arriving in the Pedralbes neighborhood after losing the Monte Carlo final against Jannik Sinner. And that wrist —carpal tunnel area— tells him he must slow down, so caution comes first. “In the end, I have to listen to it so it doesn’t affect me in the future. I never like to withdraw from a tournament, especially one as special as this, but, with great sadness, I have to go back home to start recovery and try to be as healthy as possible for the tournaments ahead.”
That immediate horizon affects Madrid, where in just over a week, on the 22nd, the tournament will begin, which he already had to give up a year ago due precisely to a muscular setback that occurred during the Godó final. Then, a twinge made him stop and prevent further damage, although he was later able to return in Rome and triumph both at the Foro Italico and later at Roland Garros. This time, the ambitious roadmap of the Spaniard clashes again with reality: five consecutive tournaments, too much for any physique. “The idea is to play them all,” he said. He arrived “tired” in Barcelona, where he triumphed in 2022 and 2023, and that bad gesture when the first set against Virtanen had not yet closed was enough to change the roadmap.
Physique and risks
Madrid? Maybe. Perhaps yes, or maybe no. Immediately, Alcaraz started the race against time. “I hope you can see me on a court as soon as possible,” said the one from El Palmar, who left the room with a distressed expression and a “sorry”. This time he hoped to complete the tour, but experience tells him he must look at the medium and long term, and that a misstep or a wrong choice at this stage could prevent him from arriving in good condition at Roland Garros (starting May 24). He couldn’t do it in 2022, the year of his breakthrough; nor in 2023 (wrist) nor 2024, then with forearm pain; and he also couldn’t maintain continuity in 2025 (hamstring and adductor); 2026 is no different. Not even Nadal could close the circle completely.
“Now I listen to my body much better. If I have to skip one, I will skip it. I don’t know how the matches will be, if I will win, if I will lose early, if they will be very physically demanding… I don’t know. But what I can say is that this year I will listen to my body much better,” he repeated on Monday. Now, Alcaraz will return to Murcia and there he will be supervised by doctor Juanjo López to follow the corresponding treatment; in any case, conservative. He barely trained the first day (just a warm-up) nor this Wednesday, and the idea is not to strain the painful area. He will work on his physique to not lose rhythm or sensations, but until he has guarantees he will not pick up the racket again. When in doubt, brake. He and his team look out for a long career.
Alcaraz’s physique is particular; privileged, yet prone to breaking down when efforts are too continuous. Although he has slightly moderated risky actions, multiple in matches due to those impossible stretches and running maneuvers, his aggressive style and the almost constant use of force in hitting expose him to risks in every match. He is now out of Barcelona again, so Jannik Sinner strengthens his lead —the Italian will arrive at the Caja Mágica in Madrid with a 390-point advantage, as the Spaniard loses the points earned from last year’s final in Barcelona against the Dane Holger Rune— and tennis awaits the possible events with expectation.
Read more The Olot orderly, convicted of killing 11 elderly people, begins his transition to woman in prison
