Alcaraz will lose significant points in the race for the ATP No. 1 ranking due to his injury.
Carlos Alcaraz’s injury has become one of the hottest topics in the tennis world. The wrist issues that initially appeared mild in Barcelona have turned out to be more serious than expected, forcing the Spaniard to bid farewell to the remainder of the clay-court swing.
With no set return date on the horizon, Alcaraz knows he will at least miss the Rome Masters 1000 and Roland Garros. He is the defending champion at both tournaments, and his absence will undoubtedly be a major blow to his pursuit of the No. 1 ranking—a position that Jannik Sinner is currently enjoying with little opposition.
Alcaraz wearing a protective brace on his wrist.
Despite the seemingly catastrophic nature of missing such prestigious events, returning too soon could be even worse. This was highlighted by Ivan Ljubicic, former coach of Roger Federer, who gave an extensive interview to *Corriere dello Sport* about Alcaraz’s situation.
“Carlos has pain in his wrist, so he has the time and the opportunity to work on other things with his team,” Ljubicic assessed regarding the world No. 2’s physical condition. “I hope he can take the time he needs without forcing his return,” he acknowledged.
Carlos Alcaraz before his injury.
In Ljubicic’s view, rushing back despite the urgency to defend points could be an even greater mistake: “I understand that missing one or even two Grand Slams might seem drastic today, but taking a longer break to rush things would be even more serious,” he admitted. “Once you’re in trouble, the best thing is to take your time and come back when you’re ready.”
Despite Alcaraz’s physical issues, Ljubicic does not foresee changes in his support team: “I don’t know, the injury is definitely not related to the team. And he won the Australian Open earlier this year. So I couldn’t say,” he said. An unexpected injury that has put Carlos Alcaraz’s season in jeopardy at its most crucial moment.
