Carlos Alcaraz’s Coach Admits Taking ‘Lot of Risk’ Which Could’ve Led to Major Injury Issues
The next official tournament that Carlos Alcaraz will be playing is the Paris Masters.
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Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)
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Carlos Alcaraz was quite excited to make his debut at the Japan Open, but in the very first match he played against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, he sprained his ankle. Alcaraz did not withdraw from the tournament as he, in fact, ended the Japan Open as the champion with a straight-set win over Taylor Fritz.
Because of the injury, Alcaraz skipped the Shanghai Masters. Alcaraz’s coach, Samuel Lopez, during the Open Court Podcast, shed light on the decision everyone in the 22-year-old’s team took that saw him continue playing in Tokyo.
In Tokyo against Baez, he sprained his ankle, and we thought he was going to retire that same day, but he managed to save the match. We had a day of rest the next day, and in the end, between the physio, Juan Carlos, me, and him, we said that we could still continue, but it was also dependent on him, if he was able to endure the pain a little.
This is the second time this year the six-time Grand Slam champion has skipped a tournament because of injury problems. He withdrew from the home event, the Madrid Open, because of muscle injuries.
We were able to control it, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and he was able to hold out through the tournament with a grade two sprain, and had a lot of treatment every day. Of course, he could not go to Shanghai. He reached the final and won. We were taking a lot of risks, not because of the sprain, which was pretty much under control, but because, in the end, subconsciously, you are going to put weight on it differently, and it can affect your knee.
Samuel Lopez added
The US Open was the last title Alcaraz won by beating his arch-rival Jannik Sinner, and this helped him reach the top of the rankings table once again. Sinner would have narrowed the rankings gap had he defended his Shanghai Masters title. The four-time Grand Slam champion suffered from cramps and retired mid-match in the third round he played against Tallon Griekspoor.
Carlos Alcaraz to play the Six Kings Slam next
The Six Kings Slam is around the corner, and Carlos Alcaraz is one of the players who signed up for this exhibition event, where a staggering $6 million is on the line. The Spaniard last year missed the prize money by losing to Jannik Sinner in the final.
The Six Kings Slam is scheduled to start on October 16, and the final will be held on October 19 in Riyadh. Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, both of whom have received the first-round byes, will be playing directly in the semifinals. Taylor Fritz will clash with Alexander Zverev to set up a match against Alcaraz; in the other quarterfinal, Sinner will be up against Stefanos Tsitsipas, and the winner will face Djokovic.
Following the Six Kings Slam, Alcaraz’s next destination will be Paris for the last Masters 1000 of the season. Last year at the Paris Masters, the eight-time Masters 1000 champion lost to Ugo Humbert in the fourth round. In the event, he has never progressed beyond the quarterfinals, reaching the stage in 2022.
This season, the World No.1 has claimed three Masters 1000 titles, all for the first time in his career (Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, and the Cincinnati Masters). Alcaraz will also be chasing his ninth title of the season.
Alcaraz, the ATP Tour’s most successful player this season, has so far featured in 10 finals, including at the French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon. The Paris Masters is scheduled to start on October 25, and the final will be held on November 2.
Also read: Joao Fonseca Opens Up on the State of His Relationship With Carlos Alcaraz on Tour
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