World number three Carlos Alcaraz has raised concerns about his upcoming Madrid Open title defense due to a right arm injury that has sidelined him from crucial lead-up events for the French Open. The 20-year-old, who recently defended his Indian Wells title and reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, sustained the injury during a practice session for the Monte Carlo Masters.
Alcaraz was forced to withdraw from the Monte Carlo Masters and subsequently pulled out of the Barcelona Open. Speaking to the media in Barcelona, he expressed uncertainty about his participation in the Madrid Open, stating, 'My feeling isn't right, but it is what it is. Now I'm fully focused on recovery and I have a little more time.'
While Alcaraz aims to compete in the Madrid Open, he acknowledged that his current condition does not guarantee his participation. He emphasized his commitment to following the prescribed recovery timeline but admitted to not feeling optimal for competition. 'I can't say I'll be 100% in Madrid, but that's my intention. We'll train and do everything we can so that the feelings improve so I can play a match ... It's also a very special tournament for me.'
If Alcaraz is unable to recover in time for the Madrid Open scheduled from April 24 to May 5, he may consider participating in the Rome tournament the following week to gain clay court experience ahead of the French Open. The main draw for the Roland Garros Grand Slam commences on May 26, with Alcaraz aiming to build on his semi-final appearance from the previous year.
