MADRID – World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz has cast doubt on his Madrid Open title defence later in April, as the Spaniard nurses a right arm injury that has forced him to miss key tune-up events for the French Open.
The 20-year-old retained his Indian Wells title in March and then reached the Miami Open quarter-finals, before picking up the injury in his first practice session for the Monte Carlo Masters.
The two-time Grand Slam champion was unable to play in Monaco and had to pull out of this week’s Barcelona Open.
“My feeling isn’t right, but it is what it is. Now I’m fully focused on recovery and I have a little more time,” Alcaraz said in Barcelona on April 15, a day after he decided not to defend his title.
“My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain. I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“I can’t say I’ll be 100 per cent in Madrid, but that’s my intention. We’ll train and do everything we can, so that the feelings improve so I can play a match... It’s also a very special tournament for me.”
While he remained sidelined, compatriot Rafael Nadal enjoyed a winning start in Barcelona after a long injury layoff by beating Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-3 for his first victory since January.
There was no joy however, for Russian second seed Andrey Rublev, who was ousted by American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) in the second round.
Should Alcaraz be unable to recover in time for the April 24-May 5 Masters tournament in Madrid, he could still get some clay-court action ahead of the French Open by competing in Rome the following week.
The main draw for 2024’s second Grand Slam at Roland Garros, where he reached the semi-finals last season, begins on May 26.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Andy Murray will not undergo surgery on the ankle he injured at the Miami Open but no timeline has been given for his return.
The 36-year-old Scot also withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters and the ongoing Munich Open.
“Latest update from Andy is that he is now out of the walking boot and will not be having surgery on his ankle,” a spokesperson for Murray said.
“His rehab is going well and he is hoping to start hitting again on court soon. As yet he doesn’t have a date yet for returning to competition.”
The former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion, who had hip-resurfacing surgery in 2019, previously said he did not plan to “play much past this summer” but hoped to compete at another Olympic Games.
Murray had also said he hoped to play at the French Open. REUTERS
