NEW YORK.- Back on the slopes after a long inactivity, Carlos Alcaraz He assured on Friday that he is prepared to defend his title US Open, even if you return in a grand slam represents a greater “challenge”.
“I know that coming to US Open and playing best-of-five-set matches for the first time after so long is really a challenge,” said the Spanish star in his pre-tournament press conference in New York.
“In terms of preparation and all that it’s probably not the best time,” he said. “It wasn’t an easy decision. I just did whatever it took to be ready.”
Alcaraz, a double US Open champion, has not competed since injuring his right wrist on April 16 in Barcelona.
The mishap stopped his great start to the season, in which he won the Australian Open, becoming the youngest tennis player to triumph in all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Alcaraz had to resign Roland Garros and Wimbledon and returns just in time for the last big event of the US Open, in which he will not face his great rival, the Italian Jannik Sinnerdue to a knee injury.
“It’s a little strange. We’re not going to see each other for six or seven months, but I wish him all the best,” Alcaraz said of Sinner, with whom he has shared almost every Grand Slam title since 2024.
“I hope he has a really good recovery and we can see him back on the track, at his best level, once again,” he wished him.
Get away from fear
Regarding his own recovery process, Alcaraz said he trusts the sensations of his demanding training sessions, although the litmus test will be the start of the competition starting on Sunday.
“Coming here to train with these kids to feel the competition again is a real test,” said Alcaraz, for whom the most difficult thing has been overcoming his own fears of a relapse.
“I have to trust my people, who tell me that everything is going to be fine. So I just have to go out one hundred percent,” he said. “I’m trying to stay away from that fear and play normal.”
Alcaraz, second seed in the tournament after the German Alexander Zverevwill debut in the first round against the Russian Roman Safiullin.
His complicated itinerary includes possible duels in the quarterfinals against the American Ben Shelton or French Arthur Filschampions this month of the Montreal Masters 1000 and Cincinnati, and the Serbian Novak Djokovic in semi-finals.
