Carlos Alcaraz Twists Ankle in Practice but Expected to Be ‘OK’ for US Open

NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz had to cut short a training session for the US Open after twisting his right ankle. However, the young Spaniard expressed that he is not worried about any potential impact on his performance during the year’s final Grand Slam tournament.

At just 21 years of age, Alcaraz shared his thoughts on the incident, stating, “I think it is OK. I just stopped my practice just for precaution.” The reigning champion of the US Open, who has already secured four major titles, mentioned that he didn’t feel comfortable continuing practice due to the risk of aggravating the injury.

Despite the setback, Alcaraz remained optimistic about his participation in the tournament. His primary concern was losing valuable practice time as he prepares to pursue what would be his third consecutive Grand Slam title, following victories at the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this summer.

“I don’t want to stop any practice. I want to practice, I want to get better, I want to get ready for the tournament,” Alcaraz stated. He also reassured fans, saying, “I’m sure that tomorrow, or in two days, I’m going to be at 100%, for sure.”

Scheduled to play his first-round match on Tuesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz will face Australia’s Li Tu, who is ranked 188th and will be competing in only his second Grand Slam match. Alcaraz recognizes the importance of being prepared, especially as he heads into a crucial match.

His preparations have not gone as planned. Alcaraz has only played one match on hard courts leading up to the US Open, suffering a loss to Gael Monfils in the Cincinnati Open. The loss was so frustrating that Alcaraz infamously smashed his racket in a moment of anger, later apologizing for the incident on social media.

While he would have preferred more hard-court experience before arriving in New York, he remains confident in his abilities. Alcaraz pointed out that he faced similar situations prior to previous tournaments, noting that he had limited matches on clay before the French Open and only played two on grass before his triumph at Wimbledon.

His previous performance gives him hope as he stated, “I don’t want to think that it’s going to be the same (as) the previous two Grand Slams, but I’m not worried about not having too many matches on hard courts.”

Reflecting on recent events, Alcaraz spoke about his emotional loss to Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final at the Paris Olympics. He recalled the disappointment he felt after not securing the gold medal, sharing, “It was a difficult moment to deal (with) for me.” However, he quickly recognized the achievement of winning a silver medal, realizing it was something to be proud of.

Alcaraz emphasized the learning experience from that match, stating, “I’ll try to keep going, try to learn (from) this match… The next important matches of my career, I’m going to deal (with) in a different way, or a better way, than I did in the Olympics.” This reflective mindset prepares him for the upcoming challenges and highlights his determination to grow and improve.

As the US Open approaches, anticipation builds for Alcaraz’s performance. Fans eagerly await to see if he can navigate this small setback and continue his impressive run in pursuit of another Grand Slam title.

Source: Various News Outlets