Andy Roddick has shared his thoughts on Carlos Alcaraz’s injury after the 20-year-old pulled out of the 2024 Barcelona Open following a latest injury setback.
The American thinks Alcaraz’s arm injury could be “a silver lining”, while hoping it is not “structurally off” as that would be “a lot more concerning.” Alcaraz withdrew from this week’s Barcelona Open due to the same injury that caused him to skip the Monte Carlos Masters last week. The Murcia-native won back to back titles at Barcelona Open in 2022 and 2023.
This is the second injury issue faced by the youngster in 2024 as he also had his ankle twisted in the Rio Open earlier in February.
In a social media post on Sunday, Barcelona Open management announced Alcaraz’s absence from the event: “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.”
Talking to Tennis Channel, Roddick commented on the physical issue that forced Alcaraz to sit out of the two clay tourneys.
“You know he doesn’t want to miss any of these clay-court events, especially in his home country,” said the 2003 US Open Champion.
“I guess the silver lining is that it’s an arm injury. Hopefully, it’s not structurally off. That would be a lot more concerning. But at least he can keep his legs in shape.
“He’s not going to be risking fitness with the arm injury. It’s not as if he’s going to come back, hopefully not looking for his pacing with his legs, his movement. He can still do all of those drills, better safe than sorry,” added former World No. 1.
“He has entered the part of his career where you start at the Slams and work backwards with your priorities. Hopefully, that’s what he’s doing here.”
If free from injury, Alcaraz will next compete at the Madrid Open, where he is a 2-time defending champion. The Masters 1000 tournament starts on April 23.