Carlos Alcaraz, a rising star in the tennis world, has been warned by former Italian tennis player Guido Monaco that his physically demanding style of play could lead to severe injuries. While Alcaraz has quickly risen in the ranks since the beginning of the 2022 season, winning his maiden Grand Slam title and three Masters 1000 titles, he has also missed several events due to various injuries. Monaco urges the young player to make changes to his game before it’s too late.
Injuries plaguing Alcaraz’s career
In November 2022, an abdominal muscle tear forced Alcaraz to retire from the Paris Masters mid-match. He then sustained a leg injury during preparation for the 2023 Australian Open, which led him to withdraw from the tournament. Most recently, the 19-year-old cited hand and back problems as the reason for pulling out of the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters. Monaco stressed that Alcaraz’s frequent use of splits in every match puts him at risk for further injuries.
Learning from Novak Djokovic
Monaco suggested Alcaraz should take notes from Novak Djokovic, who also performs splits but in a more controlled manner. “Djokovic, who has the same type of defensive game, only does it in certain games. Carlos, on the other hand, is still too exuberant and has been exposed to a few too many injuries,” Monaco explained.
Pressure to emulate Big 3’s success
There has been speculation that Alcaraz could potentially rival or even surpass the success of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. However, according to former World No. 1 Boris Becker, the young Spaniard still has a long way to go. Becker stated that although Alcaraz is a “superstar,” there is more to achieving the level of the Big 3 than just playing tennis. Alcaraz is expected to make a comeback at the ATP 500 Barcelona Open, beginning on April 17.
