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NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz had to stop a training session at the US Open on Saturday due to a twisted right ankle, though he believes it will not affect his performance in the upcoming Grand Slam. “I think it’s OK.
I stopped the practice just to be cautious,” the 21-year-old Spaniard said. Alcaraz, who clinched his first of four major titles at Flushing Meadows in 2022, expressed more concern about losing valuable practice time than the injury itself.
He has his sights set on a third consecutive Slam victory following wins at the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.
“I didn’t want to halt any practice. I’m eager to improve and prepare,” he remarked, optimistic about a quick return to form, “I’m confident I’ll be back to 100% in a day or two.”
Set to compete Tuesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the third-seeded Alcaraz faces Australia’s Li Tu, ranked 188th and relatively new to Grand Slam tournaments. Despite this hiccup and a recent defeat on a hard court at the Cincinnati Open—where a frustrated Alcaraz smashed his racket, an act he later apologized for on social media—he remains unfazed by the minimal hard-court play in his pre-US Open preparation.
Alcaraz also reflected on previous challenges, including limited play on other surfaces before significant wins at the French Open and Wimbledon, and his emotional loss to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics. He initially felt he disappointed his country but now views the silver medal as a proud achievement and valuable learning opportunity for future matches.