Renowned tennis coach and analyst Paul Annacone feels Carlos Alcaraz’s injury problems are “starting to get a little disconcerting” after his Barcelona Open withdrawal.
Annacone, who coached tennis legends Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, declared that it makes him worried “whenever you see young players that start to get injured a lot.”
Having missed last week’s Monte Carlo Masters due to a right arm issue, Alcaraz has pulled out of this week’s Barcelona Open due to the same problem.
In a social media post on Sunday, the tournament announced Alcaraz’s withdrawal: “We’ll miss you, champion @carlitosalcarazz will not be able to defend the title he won the last two seasons at the #BCNOpenBS.
The player from Murcia has suffered from the injury sustained in Monte Carlo, and did not have a good feeling in his training on Sunday and, despite having tried until the last moment, he will not be in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell – 71 Trofeo Conde of Godó.”
Spanish journalist German R. Abril has reported, though, that Alcaraz is not injured and insisted the world No 3’s decision to skip the ATP 500 event was a precaution.
Alcaraz has had to deal with a handful of injury issues in his career to date, although none have been severe enough to keep him out for a lengthy period.
The 20-year-old was forced to miss the 2022 ATP Finals due to an abdominal muscle tear he sustained at the Paris Masters, before a right leg injury kept him out of the 2023 Australian Open. The Spaniard also skipped the Swiss Indoors in Basel in October due to minor issues with his left foot and his lower back.
At the 2024 Rio Open in February, the two-time Grand Slam champion sustained an ankle injury that forced him to retire in his opening match.
Speaking on Tennis Channel, Annacone expressed his concern about Alcaraz’s injuries after it was revealed he would not compete in Barcelona due to his latest physical issue.
“Yeah, it’s starting to get a little disconcerting. There’s plenty of time leading into the French Open. But just, whenever you see young players that start to get injured a lot, it just makes me worried a little bit,” said the American, a former ATP world No 3 in doubles and 12 in singles.
“And obviously this kid’s a tremendous athlete and let’s just hope that this injury gets out of him very quickly. But look, two tournaments — that’s a significant loss.”
Alcaraz, who won the Barcelona Open in 2022 and 2023, will hope to return to action at the Madrid Open — another tournament where he is a two-time defending champion.
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