Carlos Alcaraz Twists Ankle, But Remains Confident for U.S. Open Title Defense
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz suffered a minor setback in his preparation for the upcoming U.S. Open, twisting his right ankle during a practice session on Saturday. However, the young Spaniard remains optimistic about his chances of defending his title at Flushing Meadows. Alcaraz, who won his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open in 2022, has already claimed this year’s French Open and Wimbledon championships, and is aiming for a third consecutive Grand Slam victory.
Key Takeaways:
- Alcaraz twisted his ankle during a practice session, but believes it’s a minor injury and won’t affect his U.S. Open participation.
- The 21-year-old is targeting a third straight Grand Slam title, following his recent triumphs at the French Open and Wimbledon.
- Alcaraz’s preparation has been hampered by limited hard-court play, but he remains confident, citing his success in similar circumstances at the French Open and Wimbledon.
- Alcaraz is looking to learn from his recent Olympics silver medal defeat to Novak Djokovic, seeking to approach future high-pressure matches with greater composure.
A Minor Setback Won’t Derail Alcaraz’s Title Hopes
Alcaraz, known for his aggressive playing style and relentless pursuit of every point, brought his practice session to an abrupt end after twisting his ankle. Despite the discomfort, he assured fans that the injury was not serious and he expects to be fully recovered within a short period. "I think it is OK. I just stopped my practice just for precaution," Alcaraz explained, emphasizing his desire to avoid any risks that could jeopardize his participation in the U.S. Open. He expressed confidence in his recovery, stating: "I’m sure that tomorrow, or in two days, I’m going to be at 100%, for sure."
Alcaraz Aims for Historic Grand Slam Feat
With a string of impressive victories across various surfaces, Alcaraz has cemented his status as the world’s top player. He is now focused on the U.S. Open, where he seeks to become the first man to win three consecutive Grand Slam titles since Novak Djokovic achieved the feat in 2021. The pressure is immense, but Alcaraz is determined to seize the opportunity and add another prestigious trophy to his burgeoning collection.
"I don’t want to stop any practice," Alcaraz said, highlighting his commitment to maximizing his preparation. "I want to practice, I want to get better, I want to get ready for the tournament."
Lack of Hard-Court Practice Not a Concern for Alcaraz
Alcaraz acknowledged that his preparation for the U.S. Open has been less than ideal due to limited hard-court matches leading up to the tournament. However, he drew confidence from his previous experiences at the French Open and Wimbledon, where he triumphed despite similar circumstances. At the French Open, he entered the tournament with limited clay-court matches due to a lingering forearm injury, while at Wimbledon, he played just two matches on grass before winning the championship.
"I don’t want to think that it’s going to be the same (as) the previous two Grand Slams," Alcaraz said with a smile, highlighting his belief in his ability to overcome any challenges. "But I’m not worried about not having too many matches on hard courts."
Learning from the Olympics: A Focus on Resilience
Despite his dominant form in recent Grand Slams, Alcaraz encountered a setback in the men’s singles final at the Paris Olympics three weeks ago, losing to Novak Djokovic in a tense two-tiebreaker encounter. The defeat was a disappointing blow, and Alcaraz openly expressed his emotional distress, attributing the loss to him "letting his country down."
Looking back on the Olympics, Alcaraz reflected on the experience: "It was a difficult moment to deal (with) for me," he said. "But in front of me, I had a really good player that was fighting for the same thing as me. And he deserve it. So days after the Olympics, I realized that I won the silver medal. It was a great achievement for me that I have to be proud of. 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."
Alcaraz’s willingness to learn from his defeats underlines his commitment to continuous improvement. It seems that even a minor ankle twist won’t deter him from achieving his ultimate goal: defending his U.S. Open title and cementing his position as the world’s most dominant tennis player.
