New world No. 6 Carlos Alcaraz sustained an ankle injury during his Madrid Masters quarterfinal meeting versus Rafael Nadal but managed to finish that match and ultimately win the tournament.
However, after winning Madrid, Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from Rome.
Italian tennis fans will have to wait for at least one more year to see Alcaraz at Foro Italico.
Alcaraz feels withdrawing from Rome and giving himself rest ahead of the French Open is the right thing to do.
“Due to the fall that I had with Rafa, the ankle, I had a problem, and this morning it was a little more swollen. And also I had a blister in my feet which was a little bit infected, and it’s been a little bit tough start of the day. It was difficult for me to walk,” Alcaraz said, per Jose Morgado.
“I think that it’s better to rest, to recover my ankle, recover my feet, to be in Paris at 100%.”
Alcaraz. “Due to the fall that I had with Rafa, the ankle, I had a problem, and this morning it was a little more swollen. And also I had a blister in my feet which was a little bit infected, and it’s been a little bit tough start of the day. It was difficult for me to walk”.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 8, 2022
Alcaraz on skipping Rome. “I think that it’s better to rest, to recover my ankle, recover my feet, to be in Paris at 100%.”
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 8, 2022
Alcaraz remains humble
Last week, Alcaraz defeated Nadal and Novak Djokovic in back-to-back matches.
Seeing Nadal and Djokovic lose to the same opponent in the same tournament isn’t a common occurrence.
After beating Nadal and Djokovic, Alcaraz was asked if he felt he was the best player in the world.
Alcaraz has definitely been the best player over the last two months but he is remaining humble.
“Djokovic is No. 1 in the ranking. You know, because I have won Barcelona, and I have beaten Djokovic and Rafa yesterday in Madrid, I don’t consider myself the best player in the world,” Alcaraz explained.
“”I consider myself a player that’s playing very well. You know, as the numbers speak by themselves, I think that I’m doing it quite well on clay right now.”
Alcaraz doesn’t consider himself the best player in the world right now: “Djokovic is No. 1 in the ranking. You know, because I have won Barcelona, and I have beaten Djokovic and Rafa yesterday in Madrid, I don’t consider myself the best player in the world.”
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 8, 2022
Alcaraz. “I consider myself a player that’s playing very well. You know, as the numbers speak by themselves, I think that I’m doing it quite well on clay right now.”
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 8, 2022
Alcaraz has won four titles so far in 2022 and he will be aiming to win a maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.