Image source: Instagram/@carlitosalcarazz
Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, assured fans he will be “at 100%” for the upcoming U.S. Open. This comes after a brief scare on Saturday when he halted his training session in New York due to a twisted ankle.
Carlos Alcaraz, who has struggled with several injuries this year, took a precautionary break from his session with Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.
“I didn’t feel comfortable enough to keep practicing, so I decided to stop,” Carlos Alcaraz explained during a news conference. “A few hours later, I felt good, and tomorrow I’ll be back to practice without any worries.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s injury history has been a concern, especially after an ankle issue forced him to withdraw from the Rio Open earlier this year.
However, the 21-year-old Spaniard remained optimistic about his U.S. “I wasn’t worried about missing the tournament,” he added. “I was just frustrated to stop the practice, especially since I wanted to show respect to Cerundolo.”
The young star, who will start his U.S. Open campaign on Tuesday against Australia’s Li Tu, is confident he’ll be at full strength. “Tomorrow or in two days, I’ll be at 100%, no doubt,” Alcaraz assured. He is aiming for his second U.S. Open title after his victory in 2022.
Reflecting on his recent experience at the Olympics, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in a closely contested final, Alcaraz admitted it was a tough moment. “I had my chances, but Djokovic played exceptionally well. After some time, I realized winning the silver medal was something to be proud of,” he said. “I’ve learned from it and will approach future important matches differently.”
Despite his recent loss to Gael Monfils in the Cincinnati Open, Carlos Alcaraz remains unfazed by his limited hard-court play ahead of the U.S. Open. “I didn’t have many clay-court matches before Roland Garros, and it turned out well. Same with Wimbledon,” he noted. Alcaraz has won the last two major tournaments and is determined to continue his winning streak at Flushing Meadows.
