Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, we’re diving into some exciting and uncertain news from the world of tennis. The ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, are just around the corner, and one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is whether Carlos Alcaraz will be able to participate in this year’s event.
Carlos Alcaraz, the current world number 3, has been dealing with the flu virus in recent days, which has significantly affected his performance. On Monday, he faced Casper Ruud and wasn’t at his best. In fact, he interrupted his practice session after just ten minutes on Tuesday, sparking rumors that he might withdraw from the tournament altogether, potentially leaving space for Grigor Dimitrov to step in.
However, Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, reassured everyone by stating that Carlitos would do everything he could to be on court against Andrey Rublev in their upcoming match on Wednesday. And indeed, Alcaraz had a brief but intense practice session of about 30 minutes with Andres Martin on Centre Court, indicating his determination to play despite not being fully fit[1].
Alcaraz’s decision is crucial because he has not had much luck at the ATP Finals in his career. In 2022, an abdominal injury prevented him from participating, and last year, he was eliminated by Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. This year’s edition promises to be just as challenging for him. To stay in contention, Alcaraz must defeat Rublev and hope that Alexander Zverev beats Casper Ruud in the night session[1].
“It’s hard for him to breathe. His chest is a bit tight. It’s a bad time to get sick,” Ferrero said about Alcaraz’s condition. “We should not anticipate whether or not he will play. We have all played in these circumstances. I don’t think he’s going to be so bad that he won’t be able to play. It’s going to be difficult for him to be 100% (on Wednesday)” – he added[1].
The ATP Finals are not the only significant event on Alcaraz’s horizon. He will also be a key player in the upcoming Davis Cup Finals starting on November 19th in Malaga. If his health conditions do not improve, he might decide to preserve his energies and focus on the Davis Cup instead[1].
Alcaraz has faced Rublev twice before on the professional tour. He won their first encounter at the ATP Finals last year, while Rublev emerged victorious in their last match at the Mutua Madrid Open this season. It’s worth noting that Carlos was not in top form in Madrid due to a forearm injury[1].
Even in the second half of 2023, Alcaraz struggled with his best tennis. The 21-year-old from Murcia hadn’t won a title since Wimbledon and showed clear signs of fatigue. However, he has improved since the summer, winning the title in Beijing by defeating Jannik Sinner in the final[1].
“Tennis is a demanding sport, both mentally and physically,” Alcaraz reflected on the tough ATP calendar. “Every player is tired mentally. If someone says that he is fresh, he is lying. Some players deal with it better than others. I’m tired. I’m tired mentally… It’s kind of you finish one week or you finish a swing, you only have two or three days off and then you have to go to other tournaments to other parts of the world”[1].
In conclusion, it will be interesting to see how Alcaraz manages his health and performs at the ATP Finals. The world of tennis is always full of surprises, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for this young Spanish ace.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
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