Italian Tennis Doctor Claims Carlos Alcaraz Could Be Experiencing ‘a Form of Depression’ Amid Injury Hiatus

Carlos Alcaraz could be dealing with mental weakness, according to Gianni Daniele, president of the medical commission of the Italian Tennis Federation. Alcaraz has been on the sidelines since he injured his wrist during the opening round of the Barcelona Open.

No details about Alcaraz’s injury are known yet. He was scheduled to make his comeback at the Cincinnati Masters, which starts on August 13, but he chose to withdraw. And as per Daniele, Alcaraz perhaps has lost the confidence that he had before.

From Spain, it hasn’t been known for certain what type of injury Carlos had in his wrist. Now he would be going through a kind of mental weakness. Having difficulties in recovering the previous work intensity, a kind of depression would have been created in his head, a vicious circle that doesn’t allow him to have the confidence he had before.

Gianni Daniele told La Repubblica

Amid his absence, his arch-rival Jannik Sinner took home three Big Titles: the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, and Wimbledon. But Sinner has time and again said that he wants to see Alcaraz play again, as competing against the Spaniard makes him a better player.

Doubts would start to take hold of his mind, and it’s a shame, because even for the number one, it means not finding a rival of such an extraordinary caliber.

Gianni Daniele added

Alcaraz met Sinner in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters, which he lost. Before the tournament in The Principality, the Spaniard also reached the final of the Australian Open and the Qatar Open, winning both by beating Novak Djokovic and Arthur Fils, respectively. His win in the Melbourne Slam made him the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Greg Rusedski is convinced Carlos Alcaraz will skip the US Open

If Carlos Alcaraz plays at the US Open, he will be playing without match practice. And this is why several former players believe there’s no way Alcaraz would be chasing his third title in the tournament. Greg Rusedski also shares the same opinion.

Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of Cincinnati. It was looking so good in the practice sessions. I was questioning it a bit when we had the juniors going on there, and we saw him hitting with juniors, but it looked pretty good with the movement, the strike, the new hairdo, everything was looking good. But you can count the US Open out now. There is no way he’s going to play in the US Open if he’s missing Cincinnati.

Greg Rusedski said on the Off Court with Greg podcast

The seven-time Grand Slam champion beat Jannik Sinner in last year’s US Open final, dashing his hopes of title defense. His defeat to Sinner in Monte Carlo took him to the No.2 spot from the top.

Then Alcaraz dropped to the third spot after Alexander Zverev reached the final of Wimbledon. But he reached the No.2 position during the Canadian Open.

In Cincinnati last year, the 23-year-old received a walkover from defending champion Sinner. The five-time Grand Slam champion will not be playing as he is nursing a knee niggle.

It’s Sinner who has won the most titles on the tour this season (in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, and Wimbledon). After completing the Career Golden Masters with his win in Rome (he became the second player after Novak Djokovic to do so), Sinner crashed out of the second round of the US Open due to cramps. Following his Wimbledon title defense, the 24-year-old chose not to complete the Golden Masters by skipping the Canadian Open.

Also read: Elena Rybakina Makes Feelings Clear on No.1 Ranking Goal After Aryna Sabalenka’s Canadian Open Exit