Alcaraz ‘really happy with progress’ of injury recovery ahead of French Open
Carlos Alcaraz admits he is undercooked heading into the French Open but believes he can find his best form on the Parisian clay.
The Spaniard has struggled with a forearm injury over the past couple of months, missing the big clay-court events in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. He did play the Madrid Open in front of his home fans but admitted after losing to Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals that he was still experiencing pain and opted to sit out the Italian Open.
Alcaraz is confident he will be fully fit for Roland Garros, which starts on Sunday, saying: “Things are going well lately, I’m really happy with all the progress.
“It was difficult for me because at the beginning the doctors told me it’s not going to be really serious, it’s just going to take a few days, from five to seven, and it wasn’t that time.
“I was dealing with the pain, with how to focus my practices to the injury. playing the mu tu a Madrid Open not at my 100 per cent was difficult as well but
I’m really happy that I had the chance to play.
“Missing Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, tournaments that are really beautiful for me, was tough but things are going very, very good lately and that’s all that matters. I think I’ll be at my 100 per cent.”
It has been a frustrating time for-the-21-year-old, whoseemed to be hitting his stride again after winning his first title since last summer’s Wimbledon at Indian Wells in March.
“I don’t have hours on the court and I think on clay you need to be a lot of hours on the court just to get the rhythm, to get how to move,” he said. “Missing the threeclay, really important ones, and not playing points, sets or matches before, it’s going to be difficult, but I have time to practise with the top players, I have time to play sets and practice matches, and I think it’ll be really helpful for me just to be ready for Roland Garros.”
Despite his difficult buildup, Alcaraz is favourite to win his maiden French Open title, reflecting an unusually turbulent time at the top of the men’s game. Australian Open champion jan niks inner is also struggling with a hip problem while Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both go into the tournament short on wins.
Al car az, though, would not be surprised to see the cream rise to the top again in Paris.
“I think it’s really open right now,” he said. “A lot of players are playing really good tennis lately. Jannik is coming back from an injury, myself as well. Djokovic is not playing his best tennis but I’m pretty sure, once we step on the court at Roland Garros, it’s going to seem that we didn’t get injured.”
Djokovic,w ho turned 37 yesterday,had one of his most dominant season sin 2023, missing out on a calendar Grand Slam only because of a final defeat by Alcaraz at Wimbledon, but this season is yet to make a final at any level. “Probably he’s not playing his best tennis, he’s not winning tournaments, but he’s able to play Roland Garros and win it,” said Alcaraz.
“Novak has that talent, not winning tournaments foray ear and then the big moments, the big tournaments, he’s able to win and to show his best tennis, and everybody thinks, ‘How is that possible’? That’s the Novak Djokovic spirit and that’s why he’s one of the best in history.”