By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis campaign faced an early setback after he sustained a right ankle injury in the first minute of his Rio Open match on February 21, 2024.
The incident occurred with the score at just 15-0, abruptly ending Alcaraz’s pursuit of the Rio Open title as he rolled his ankle on the left baseline of the clay court.
The injury happened after Alcaraz returned a heavy spin service from his opponent Thiago Monteiro. Although he managed to hit a forehand return, he lost his footing and moved awkwardly to the right, leading to the fall.
Seconds after the incident, Alcaraz fell to the ground, visibly in distress, and was assisted by Monteiro and the match official to rise.
Despite the efforts of ATP physio staff member Alejandro Resnicoff, who applied a heavy strap to his ankle, Alcaraz was forced to retire after the match score reached 1-all, unable to bear the pain.
Reflecting on the injury, Alcaraz expressed his initial concern.
“I felt bad right away. The pain was there as soon as I fell, so I knew it would be tough to continue playing with that kind of discomfort,” he said.
Alcaraz plans to have his ankle assessed and will immediately start rehabilitation with his team, aiming for a timely recovery for the major tournaments ahead.
The world’s current number two male tennis player is eager to regain his form after his recent Grand Slam challenges.
He last triumphed at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, where he emerged victorious over Novak Djokovic in a challenging five-set match.
