Carlos Alcaraz’s recovery from his ankle injury appears to be going well with the two-time Grand Slam winner walking freely again and even able to take on the duties of ball boy.
The world No 2 is on the mend after his Rio Open campaign lasted only two games as he rolled his ankle on the second point of his first-round match against Thiago Monteiro on Tuesday.
Although he continued to play after receiving treatment from the ATP physio, he threw in the towel with the score at 1-1 and was seen limping off the court before leaving the stadium in a golf cart.
Alcaraz, though, provided a positive update following his MRI scan as he revealed he should be fit for his next two assignments – The Netflix Slam in Las Vegas and the Indian Wells Open – despite suffering a grade II ankle sprain.
“After the meeting with my doctor @drlopezmartinez and my physiotherapists @juanjo_moreno_m and @sergiokine the diagnosis is a grade II lateral sprain. I have a sprain that will keep me out for a few days! See you in Las Vegas and Indian Wells!” he wrote.
Alcaraz has opted to stick with his original plan and stay Rio de Janeiro with Spanish paper Marca reporting that he will remain in the Brazilian city until March 1 before heading to the United States.
The 20-year-old returned to training on Thursday with a heavily strapped ankle and – despite still not being 100% – he has also been keeping busy as he worked as a ball boy for his brother Alvaro.
Carlos Alcaraz segue no Rio de Janeiro apesar de ter desistido na primeira rodada. Imagens do @BrunoAlencastro de agora pouco no Jockey @Bola_Amarela pic.twitter.com/gx7d3VGHdi
— bruno da silva (@ibrunodasilva) February 23, 2024
The 24-year-old Alvaro has been Carlos’ hitting partner for a good few years, but with his brother unable to train the older member of the Alcaraz clan was on duty to practice with Serbian tennis player Dusan Lajovic.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz is next set to be in action on March 3 when he takes on tennis great Rafael Nadal – who himself has injury clouds hanging over him – in The Netflix Slam in Las Vegas with the match to be broadcast on the streaming giant’s platform.
He will then travel to California for his Indian Wells Open title defence with the ATP Masters 1000 tournament starting on March 6 before completing the Sunshine Double with the Miami Open.