Alcaraz Expresses Concern Over Arm Injury Ahead Of French Open

Carlos Alcaraz has expressed optimism about his condition ahead of the French Open, despite ongoing concerns with his right forearm. The world number three reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year, losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. However, his current preparations have been less than ideal.

Alcaraz has been troubled by a right forearm injury throughout the clay-court season. This issue forced him to withdraw from tournaments in Barcelona and Rome. His fitness struggles were also evident in his Madrid Open quarter-final defeat by Andrey Rublev.

The Spaniard admitted he might need to adjust his game plan against J.J. Wolf in the opening round. Despite these challenges, Alcaraz remained optimistic during media day in Paris. "I'm feeling better," he said with a smile. "At least I can practise and hit balls without pain. That's a really good point for me."

Focus on Practice

Alcaraz acknowledged that he arrived at the tournament without as many matches as he had hoped for but emphasised his focus on practice. "I'm not feeling any pain when I step on the court in practice, but I'm still thinking about it when I am hitting forehands," he noted.

Special Tournament

He highlighted the significance of Roland Garros, describing it as a special tournament where everyone aims for good results. "This tournament is one of the main reasons that I'm practising every day," Alcaraz stated. "I want to be a better player, to be able to win these kinds of tournaments."

Building Confidence

Despite the setbacks, Alcaraz is confident in his practice sessions. "I'm practising well. I'm getting in rhythm. I'm getting confidence from the practice, and that is really important," he said. He believes he doesn't need too many matches to reach his peak performance level.

Carlos Ballos#RolandGarros @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/V5JWGWbckC

Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 24, 2024