Carlos Alcaraz had to withdraw from the ATP tournament in Rio de Janeiro due to a severe ankle injury. The injury occurred during the first round of the match against Thiago Monteiro from Brazil. Alcaraz attempted to continue playing for a few games, but his ankle quickly swelled, leading to the decision to withdraw in order to prevent further complications.
The injury brought to mind Alexander Zverev’s experience at the Roland Garros 2022 semifinal against Rafael Nadal, where Zverev also suffered from a swollen ankle. Alcaraz, like Zverev, requested a medical time-out, but it was evident as soon as he removed his shoe that his ankle was already swollen.
Alcaraz will now miss the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and is awaiting the results of medical tests that will be conducted in the coming hours. He attempted to return to the match to assess his ability to continue playing, but after consulting with the physiotherapist, it became clear that the pain persisted and he had no choice but to withdraw as a precautionary measure.
The pain Alcaraz experienced made it difficult for him to continue playing. The physiotherapist advised him to play a few more games to gauge his condition, but the pain persisted and hindered his movement, ultimately leading to his decision to retire. He expressed his disappointment with the situation and the discomfort he felt.
Alcaraz’s initial impression of the injury was that it was serious, but he will have a thorough ankle test the following day to determine the extent of the injury. The physiotherapists have expressed optimism that it is not a severe injury. Alcaraz will have to defend his 1000 points in Indian Wells, and there is also a planned exhibition match against Rafael Nadal in Las Vegas, which may now be in jeopardy.
At present, Alcaraz experiences pain when walking, and he plans to take it slow and rest. He will undergo tests to assess the severity of the injury. Despite the pain he felt during the fall, he understands that such incidents can happen in sports and remains hopeful that the injury is not too serious.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org