As the US Open approaches, Carlos Alcaraz has reassured fans and critics alike after cutting short a practice session due to an ankle injury. The 21-year-old Spaniard, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was forced to halt his session when he twisted his right ankle. Despite the setback, Alcaraz remains optimistic about his form and readiness for the final Grand Slam of the year.
“I just stopped my practice for precaution,” Alcaraz told reporters at his Media Day press conference. “I didn’t feel comfortable enough to keep practicing just in case if everything was going to be worse. But after a few hours later, I’m still feeling good.” He added, “Tomorrow I will try to be practicing again 100 percent without thinking about it.”
Alcaraz’s confidence is bolstered by his impressive track record. Since winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2022, he has added three more to his collection, including this year’s French Open and Wimbledon. However, his recent performance has been under scrutiny. After a dominating victory over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, Alcaraz faced the 24-time Grand Slam champion once again in the Paris Olympics final, where he was defeated.
The loss in Paris was a significant moment for Alcaraz, but he is using it as a learning experience. Reflecting on his Olympic defeat, Alcaraz acknowledged, “It was a difficult moment to deal with for me, losing the gold medal in a really close match that I had opportunities to win.” Despite the loss, he remains positive about his achievements. “Days after the Olympics were OK, I realized that I won the silver medal, which was a great achievement for me that I have to be proud of,” he said.
Alcaraz’s preparation for the US Open has not gone entirely smoothly. His sole tune-up event before the tournament saw him crash out of the Cincinnati Open. He was defeated by French veteran Gael Monfils in a three-set match, a performance he described as “the worst match that I ever played in my career.” Alcaraz also apologized for his on-court behavior, including smashing his racquet in frustration.
Despite these challenges, Alcaraz is not letting them affect his outlook. He brushed off concerns about his lack of hard court preparation due to the unusual schedule this year, which included an unexpected clay-to-grass-to-clay transition because of the addition of the Olympics. “It doesn’t matter for me,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously, I would have loved to have more matches on hard court before the US Open. But it doesn’t affect me at all.”
He pointed out his success despite similar challenges in the past. “If I look back a little bit, for example, facing Roland Garros, I hadn’t too many matches on clay, and it was a pretty good result. And then in Wimbledon, same thing.” Alcaraz remains hopeful that his ability to rise to big occasions will continue. “I don’t want to think that it’s going to be the same as the previous two Grand Slams, but I’m not worried about not having too many matches on hard court,” he said.
As the US Open draws near, Alcaraz’s resilience and readiness will be closely watched. His ability to adapt and perform under pressure will be key as he aims to add another major title to his burgeoning career. With his recent experiences and his determination to improve, Alcaraz is poised to make a strong impact at Flushing Meadows, continuing his impressive trajectory in the world of tennis.
