Carlos Alcaraz is slated to make his way to Madrid on Sunday amid growing uncertainty surrounding his participation in the second clay-court ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the season.
An injury to his right forearm has disrupted Alcaraz’s plans for the European clay swing, which was set to commence in Monte Carlo. Despite traveling to Monaco, the 20-year-old had to abbreviate his initial practice session due to discomfort in his arm.
For the second consecutive year, he pulled out of the tournament and returned to Spain for treatment, with two title defenses on the horizon. Alcaraz collaborated intensively with his psychologist, Juanjo Moreno, in an effort to pass a late fitness assessment for the Barcelona event.
However, he was ultimately deemed unfit to compete in the ATP 500 tournament. Alcaraz attributes the injury to the frequent shifts in balls and surfaces. Having already participated in five tournaments this year, including two on clay in South America where he endured an ankle injury, the strain on his body has been evident.
The two-time Grand Slam champion expressed dismay at missing out on one of the pivotal tournaments of his career. Alcaraz shared that he was deeply affected upon learning of his absence from the Barcelona Open this year, particularly since close friends and family had made arrangements to witness his performance.
His potential involvement in the Madrid Open is likely to be decided at the eleventh hour. Alcaraz has been honing his skills at the Ferrero Tennis Academy, offering glimpses of his training sessions that include shadow swings without a racket.
Reportedly, Alcaraz had initially planned to travel to Madrid on Saturday for further assessments, providing a clearer indication of his readiness to compete. However, this itinerary has now been adjusted.
Instead, the World No. 3 will embark on his journey on Sunday, ahead of Monday’s official draw ceremony, where he is scheduled to be among the guests alongside the women’s defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka.
This additional day will afford Alcaraz more time to recuperate from the forearm injury, with his anticipated title defense set to commence on Saturday, April 27.
