Alcaraz has Grade 2 Ankle Sprain, Hopeful for Las Vegas Exo and Indian Wells

The Spaniard expects to be back on court in a few days.

Carlos Alcaraz has revealed the details of the ankle injury that forced him to retire from his first-round match at the Rio Open on Tuesday.

Per ESPN, the second-ranked Spaniard says he has a Grade 2 sprain and hopes to be able to play at his exhibition with Rafael Nadal on March 3rd in Las Vegas, as well as this yearā€™s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, which begins later that week.

ā€œI just had an MRI on my ankle after yesterday’s injury,ā€ he said. ā€œAfter the meeting with my doctor Dr. Lopez Martinez and my physiotherapists Juanjo Moreno and Sergio Kine, the diagnosis is a grade 2 lateral sprain. I have a sprain that will keep me out for a few days. See you in Las Vegas and Indian Wells.ā€


Alcaraz took a tumble just two points into his match against Thiago Monteiro on Wednesday in Rio and retired after just two games.

ā€œI felt bad,ā€ Alcaraz said. ā€œThat was the first impression I had. I mean, I was feeling pain once I fall down, so I thought that it was going to be difficult to continue playing if I was still having those feelings.

ā€œAfter a few points it didn’t feel better. I was feeling the pain. I couldn’t move well, and I knew that it was going to be impossible to continue. I thought it was going to get worse if I kept playing for such a long match and thatā€™s why I choose to retire.ā€