World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz gives important injury update ahead of Rome Masters debut

Carlos Alcaraz is set to make his much-anticipated return to the court after a right adductor injury forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open. The 22-year-old Spaniard, who sustained the injury during the ATP 500 in Barcelona, assured fans and media that he is fully recovered and ready to compete at the Rome Masters.

Alcaraz is set to make his debut on Friday, April 9, against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, who advanced through the qualifiers and defeated Yoshihito Nishioka in the opening round to earn a matchup with the 22-year-old Spaniard.

In a pre-tournament press conference, the four-time Grand Slam champion expressed his excitement and confidence. “I’m really happy to be here in Rome. It’s the second time that I’m going to play here, so I’m excited. The practices were great so far. I’m in good shape. I’m 100 percent ready to start the tournament. So I just can’t wait for tomorrow,” Alcaraz said.

While he refrained from setting specific expectations for the tournament, Alcaraz emphasized his eagerness to perform well. “Expectations? We’ll see tomorrow. It’s a tournament where I haven’t played much—just two matches (laughs)—but I’m excited to see how far I can go,” he admitted.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smiles as he walks over to the fans to sign autographs after a training session on Day Two of the Rome Open. (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

“I’ve played well in tournaments like Monte Carlo and Barcelona, with good matches. I took a short break, but I just wanted to fully recover from the injury,” Alcaraz added.

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Alcaraz aims for ATP No. 2 Ranking in Rome

Beyond his immediate goals in Rome, the tournament carries additional importance for Alcaraz, as he has a chance to reclaim the World No. 2 ranking. To surpass current No. 2 Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz must advance to at least the semifinals, provided Zverev fails to defend his title from 2024.

Clinching the No. 2 spot would offer a strategic advantage heading into Roland Garros, ensuring Alcaraz avoids a clash with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner until the final.

Alcaraz reflects on new Netflix documentary

On April 23, Netflix released “Carlos Alcaraz: My Way,” a documentary chronicling the young Spaniard’s career journey. Alcaraz admitted to feeling nervous about how fans would react but shared his delight at the overwhelmingly positive reception.

“I was nervous, honestly, because I didn’t know how people were going to react when they watched it,” Alcaraz said. “I liked it. I just really wanted people to enjoy it. So far, the reactions have been super positive, which for me is great. Some players even told me they loved it. It was really honest as well”.

He added that the documentary gave him a platform to share his personality and challenges with fans. “I’m just super happy that it had such a great impact on people and fans,” he continued. “I tried to show my personality, how I am, and the struggles and thoughts in my head. I’m really happy with how people have received it”.