Carlos Alcaraz’s absence from tennis has left a gaping hole on the ATP Tour that nobody has yet been able to fill.
The arrival of some fresh, exciting young talent has mitigated the overriding misery, but none have the charisma and shot-making quality that makes the Spaniard so revered.
So, it’s only natural that fans of the sport are clamouring for news about his return, having already missed Roland Garros, and with Wimbledon having just started without him as well.
Meaningful updates have been in very short supply over the past few months, but at last we seem to have one of note.
Jim Courier has delivered his reaction to the news.
Carlos Alcaraz’s new injury timeline revealed
Discussing the absence of the 22-year-old on Tennis Channel, the panel was updated on the reported new Carlos Alcaraz’s recovery timeline.
It was stated that he is now aiming to make his return at the US Open, meaning he will remain absent for the bulk of the summer and therefore not make a competitive appearance for another two and a half months.
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Prakash Amitraj was the first to react, stating: “I think you have to [applaud this decision], especially for someone like Carlos, who we know is going to have a certain type of career if he continues. He’s already won seven Grand Slams. He’s done virtually everything he could possibly imagine at this age. So I applaud it.
“It’s got to be absolutely brutal, because you’ve got to think, even him with his confidence, with what he’s achieved, at 80%, I can get out there and beat just about everyone.
“So I think he’s looking long-term, which is what he needs to do. We want to see him playing for 10, 15 years, maybe even more. So, I think he’s doing the right thing. I just really hope he gets a crack with some matches under his belt before New York.”
Courier then added: “I just feel like it’s long term. Like, none of this matters in the short term.
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“It’s all about, can he have that career where he can chase history? Because he’s already there. He’s already won a career slam; he’s already setting records for being the youngest. Can he be the oldest?
“That’s what he needs to be thinking about. Can he be out here doing things like Novak and those guys have done? Because that’s the type of talent that we all have enjoyed watching from him.”
Carlos Alcaraz posts hugely promising video regarding his comeback
If we have seen any videos of or from Alcaraz training, it has been with wrist protection on and without a racket in his hand.
Whether it be footwork drills or just running in general, clips of him actually playing tennis have been minimal.
That was, until yesterday, when Alcaraz posted a short clip of him lightly rallying against a wall with encouragement from a coach in the background.
It’s not much, but just to see this mercurial talent doing what he does best, even at such a minimal level, should be enough to keep fans excited at the prospect of his proper return to action.
