Carlos Alcaraz (Getty Images)
MADRID: When Carlos Alcaraz stepped onto the red carpet at the Laureus World Sports Awards, he looked every bit the global superstar. Dressed in a sharp black tuxedo and flashing his trademark infectious smile, the 22-year-old Spaniard appeared relaxed and confident among the world’s sporting elite.
Yet, one small detail captured the attention of everyone present — a green cast wrapped around his right wrist, peeking out from under his sleeve.That image immediately sparked concern. For a player at the peak of his powers, any sign of injury carries significant weight, especially with the clay court season in full swing. The wrist injury forced him to retire from the Barcelona Open and withdraw from the Madrid Open, a key stop before the French Open starting May 24. Now, doubts are growing whether he will be able to defend his Roland Garros title — the one he claimed in memorable fashion last year against rival Jannik Sinner.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking after being named ‘Sportsman of the Year’ at the Laureus ceremony, Alcaraz did little to quell those fears. Instead, he offered a detailed update. “I have a very long career ahead of me, many years of good tennis,” he said. “Pushing myself too hard at this French Open could seriously hurt my chances in future tournaments. I prefer to come back a little later and in good shape, rather than earlier and in bad shape,” added Alcaraz, clearly thinking long-term.
The possibility of skipping not just the French Open but the entire clay season is now firmly on the table. That would also include the Italian Open, sandwiched between Madrid and Paris. For now, everything hinges on medical tests.Alcaraz confirmed that further evaluations will determine both the severity of the injury and the next steps in his recovery. “The next test will be crucial. I am trying to be very patient.
We have a few tests in the next few days and then we’ll see how the injury is and what the next steps will be,” he explained.Alcaraz emphasised the importance of patience and proper recovery. “In professional sport, you always encounter small setbacks,” he said. “But our obligation is to come back stronger. Right now, the main thing is to recover, train well and get back to competing. We’ll try to take the best possible care of ourselves now so we can return as soon as possible.
I don’t know, I can’t say anything right now.”With Wimbledon looming in June and July, Alcaraz hinted that preserving his fitness for the grass-court season could take precedence over defending his clay crown.Alcaraz was also asked about his great generational rivalry with Jannik Sinner. The Italian star was also present at the awards ceremony, applauding Alcaraz as he accepted his honour. Their on-court battles have quickly become one of tennis’s defining storylines, with both players trading the World No.
1 ranking in recent months.“I’m not worried about the fight for No. 1. We’re sharing the weeks and it’s very exciting. I already said in Monte Carlo, when I was healthy and injury free, that I was going to lose the No. 1 spot any way. He might hold it a bit longer now, but our careers are long. We’ll have many opportunities,” Alcaraz said.For Alcaraz, the immediate goal is not rankings but recovery.(The correspondent is in Madrid as a guest of Laureus World Sports Awards)
