Carlos Alcaraz has reassured fans with an optimistic update about his physical condition following an injury scare during the Barcelona Open final against Holger Rune. Despite the setback, the Spanish star remains hopeful of competing at the upcoming Madrid Open, set to begin this week.
The four-time Grand Slam winner was among the elite athletes attending the Laureus World Sports Awards 2025, held on Monday, April 21, in Madrid. Although nominated for the prestigious Sportsman of the Year award, Alcaraz narrowly missed out, with pole vault sensation Armand Duplantis taking the honor.
Alcaraz Reflects on Injury During Red Carpet Interview
Before the ceremony, Alcaraz spoke with Teledeporte, sharing insights on his fitness and his schedule. He was asked, would he be ready for the Madrid Open? For the 21-year-old's prediction, he advised that his body is just naturally reacting to such a tough stretch of matches.
“To tell the truth, I'm fine; honestly, nothing out of the ordinary, I think,” he said. “After two weeks with 10 matches in 12 days, including travel without much time for recovery, I believe that eventually the body starts giving you small warnings, right? I believe and trust that it's not going to be anything serious.”
Ongoing Treatment and Medical Checks
Alcaraz confirmed he would undergo tests on Tuesday to assess the extent of the issue. Still, early signs from physiotherapy sessions have been encouraging.
“Tomorrow I'll have some tests to see how it goes, but my feelings are positive,” he added. “Today I also worked with the physiotherapist and noticed some positive things, so we'll see. I don't think it's anything out of the ordinary.”
Madrid Open Draw and Alcaraz’s Title Ambitions
The men's singles action at the Madrid Open is scheduled to start from April 23. Following the seeding procedure, Alcaraz received a bye into the second round and should be competing on Saturday, April 26. He is aiming at a third career title in Madrid which he won in 2022 and 2023.
However, the road ahead is not easy. He is expected to compete a first match against Yoshihito Nishioka or Zizou Bergs. Possible difficulties could come in the third round from Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Alcaraz earlier this season in Doha, and a fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov.
Possible Showdowns Against Musetti, Djokovic, and Zverev
The 19-year-old might clash with Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals in a rematch of their Monte-Carlo Masters final. Should he reach it, the 35-year-old could spark a blockbuster semifinal with Novak Djokovic. The Serbian has beaten Alcaraz in their last two meetings, both ties including the 2025 Australian Open. A final showdown with the top seed Alexander Zverev might also fall into place.
Certainly, it will not be an easy draw for the Spaniard, as it is an extremely demanding tournament. Hence, he has to be in top shape for him to reclaim his Madrid title.