Carlos Alcaraz’s wrist injury has forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open.
The Spaniard, a two-time champion in the Spanish capital, suffered the injury during his opening match at the Barcelona Open.
Alcaraz subsequently withdrew from the Barcelona Open and, after further assessment, decided to withdraw from Madrid.
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Consequently, Jannik Sinner now has the chance to strengthen his world number one status.
Boris Becker, another former world number one, has weighed in on Alcaraz’s recent injury.
Boris Becker suggests Carlos Alcaraz’s tendency to play longer matches may explain why he is injured more often than Jannik Sinner
“I think I’m still positive,” Becker [pictured below] said in an interview with Eurosport Spain.
“I think it’s an injury… he would have wanted to finish in Barcelona. He’s a very proud Spanish player, so he wants to play in front of his home fans, but injuries can happen.
“So I think you should take a good look at what he’s done last year, how to recover, and then be ready for Rome.
“Difficult to say, you know, both are still very young. It’s true that Alcaraz is more often injured than Sinner, but because of his style. You know, he has a different style than Sinner.
“Sinner – I call him Djokovic 2. 0. You know, similar style from the baseline, very consistent, and also wins his matches quickly.
“Alcaraz often loses his set, has to go three hours, and so that takes a toll on his body, whereas Sinner, 6-3, 6-4 (and) 7-5, 6-2.
“So that naturally saves you energy, and I think in the long term, that’s very beneficial.”
Should Carlos Alcaraz have skipped the Barcelona Open? Did he make a mistake by playing it?
When will Alcaraz return to competitive play?
The Spaniard could make his return at the Italian Open, which begins on May 6.
Failing that, Alcaraz could return to the competitive scene at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz, the defending French Open champion, will hope to win a third consecutive French Open title when the tournament begins on May 18.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Roland Garros record
- 2020: Qualifying round one
- 2021: Third round
- 2022: Quarter-final
- 2023: Semi-final
- 2024: Champion
- 2025: Champion
Carlos Alcaraz’s first Roland Garros match
In 2020, 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz made his professional debut at the French Open.
The youngster was defeated in the first round of qualifying by Australian player Aleksandar Vukic.
Vukic, who defeated Alcaraz 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, is now ranked 89th on the ATP Tour.
A year later, Alcaraz qualified for the main draw directly.
Alcaraz defeated compatriot and fellow qualifier Bernabe Zapatas Miralles in the first round, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6.
“Well, I think the mental game is really, really important in this kind of matches,” Alcaraz told reporters in Paris. “You have to be focus and calm all the match, like 3 hours and 10 minutes. It’s really important and not easy to do.
“Yeah, in the match I trust a lot in my physical, yeah. I could play really, really good game during the whole match.”
Alcaraz then beat 28th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
The 18-year-old’s run was ended in the third round by Jan-Lennard Struff.
