Carlos Alcaraz’s absence is becoming more and more apparent following recent results at the Italian Open.
Alcaraz withdrew from the French Open and the rest of the clay court season due to an injury to his right wrist.
There is still uncertainty surrounding when Alcaraz will be able to return to the ATP Tour, with it still unclear as to whether he will be able to return for Wimbledon.
Men’s tennis should be praying that Alcaraz is recovered in time for the grass court season, as results at the Italian Open have shown just how much the ATP Tour is missing him.
Carlos Alcaraz’s absence is so clear at the Italian Open this year
Tennis is better when it is competitive, and for the last couple of years Alcaraz has been the sole consistent threat to world number one Jannik Sinner.
It was already clear that Alcaraz’s injury was going to reduce the competitiveness at the top of the ATP Tour, but it is now becoming apparent that this drop off is more than first thought.
At the Italian Open this year, four of the top six seeds are already out after playing just one match.
This includes Novak Djokovic being beaten by Dino Prizmic, while Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur also suffered disappointing exits.
As a result, from the five players who are forecast to be seeded between three and seven at the French Open, only Auger-Aliassime has won one match in either Madrid or Rome.
Can anyone now stop Jannik Sinner from winning Roland Garros after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal?
If yes, who?
There were already 14 seeded players out of the Italian Open after playing just one match, including one of the most in-form players Arthur Fils retiring due to injury.
This is only further proving how much better Sinner and Alcaraz are than the rest of the ATP Tour, and how much the latter’s absence is felt in men’s tennis right now.
Jannik Sinner will never have a better chance to make tennis history
Sinner has vocalised his disappointment at Alcaraz’s injury and absence from the ATP Tour, but there is no doubt that it has massively improved his chances of making history.
The Italian Open is the only Masters tournament that Sinner has not won, and he is now just five matches away from becoming the youngest man to win all nine ATP 1000 events.
Who do you think will retire with more Grand Slam titles?
Alcaraz won the Italian Open last year, but he is not there to defend his title at Sinner’s home Masters tournament.
Sinner’s chances feel even higher, as second seed Alexander Zverev has failed to beat the world number one in their last nine meetings.
Not only can Sinner make history at the Italian Open, but also at the French Open, where he can join Alcaraz by completing the Career Grand Slam.
Both of these things appear increasingly likely, as the competition to Sinner does not seem to be there with Alcaraz.
