Carlos Alcaraz, recently crowned Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards, is the fourth male tennis player to achieve this prestigious honor, joining an elite group with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafa Nadal. During the awards ceremony in Madrid, he was seen wearing a wrist brace, a visible reminder of the injury that has already forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open and the Madrid Open. This injury has cast a shadow of doubt over his participation in the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.
Speaking at a press conference, Alcaraz refrained from giving a definitive return date. However, he acknowledged that he is mentally preparing for the possibility of missing Roland Garros this year, stating that it would not be a cause for concern. “I’d rather come back a little later but in perfect shape than come back early, rushing it, and not being well,” he commented.
Elaborating on his decision-making process, Alcaraz explained, “We have a very long career ahead of us, many years, and pushing myself too hard at Roland Garros could seriously jeopardize my chances in future tournaments. So, we’ll see how the test goes, which we are relying on.” He clarified that the full extent of his injury will only be known after further diagnostic tests. While the brace immobilizes his arm, he requires more rest before undergoing these crucial tests.
“Things happen in the professional world. You have to accept them,” Alcaraz stated pragmatically. “Hopefully, it’s nothing serious and we can get back on court soon, but we know that I need to recover very well if I don’t want this to affect me later on.”