Carlos Alcaraz rolled his ankle in a major injury scare just two days out from the start of the US Open.
The Spanish world No 3 was practicing ahead of the final Grand Slam of 2024, which begins on Monday, when his right leg buckled.
Alcaraz immediately sunk on to his haunches before walking gingerly towards the bench. Frustration was visible on the 21-year-old’s face as he put pressure on his right leg and his team paid close attention.
After taking a seat, Alcaraz held the injured ankle before staring at the floor and shaking his head. He then reportedly cut short his practice and headed off court.
The injury occurred as Alcaraz made a routine attempt to play a backhand but it could have huge ramifications over the next couple of weeks.
Carlos Alcaraz rolled his ankle in a major injury scare ahead of the US Open in New York
The 21-year-old, who won here in 2022, is the bookies’ favorite to win this year’s US Open following victory at both Wimbledon and the French Open.
World No 1 Jannik Sinner has also had a disrupted build-up to this event. Sinner was forced to refute allegations that he was given special treatment after he avoided a ban despite failing two drugs tests earlier this year.
The Italian has found himself at the center of storm after it emerged that he twice tested positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol back in March.
Some of Sinner’s fellow players have reacted angrily to the news, suggesting there is one rule for the world’s best players and another rule for everyone else.
Sinner insisted he ‘always will respect these rules of anti-doping’ and denied that he has been treated as a special case. ‘Every player who gets tested positive has to go through the same process. There is no shortcut, there is no different treatment,’ he said.
After taking a seat, Alcaraz held his ankle before staring at the floor and shaking his head
