Alcaraz: “I don’t have any pain”

Carlos Alcaraz He was clear and concise: “I’m not in any pain, the bandage is just a precaution.” This is how Murcian responded to speculation about his physical condition. Some doubts that have intensified in recent days, due to the cancellation of two exhibitions that he was supposed to play this week, due to doing until Friday only recovery in the gym, and due to training with sparring and not with other tennis players.

The fear intensified this Sunday, when a bandage on the right leg, the same part that was injured in the Queen’s final against Australia’s Alex de Miñaur, was visible under the tennis player’s pants. Despite the bulky solution glued to the right adductor, the truth is that Alcaraz had the best session since arriving at the All England Club, with an hour and a half of practice with Emil Ruusuvuori, a good tennis player on this surface.

After two days of training, Alcaraz took a step forward and joined the 54th player in the world who already stole a set from him at the Masters 1000 in Madrid this year. He did an hour of practice with the Finn, hitting all the shots, before playing a set of training sessions where he showed a level of intensity worthy of good physical condition.

Just in case, at the press conference before the start of the tournament, he was in charge of confirming that he is ready for the third Grand Slam of the season. “I feel good. At the moment the bandage is just a precaution and all I can say is that I am very well, without any pain,” explained the man from El Palmar, who will start the competition on Tuesday the 4th against France’s Jeremy Chardy.

The weight of the story

He will do so with the recent uncertainty of physical problems, not only due to the adductor, but also because of what happened at Roland Garros, when he missed the semi-final against Novak Djokovic due to cramps, but with the confidence that he has already won the title on grass and at number one in the world on your locker.

“I hope I can play the final against Djokovic here,” said the Spaniard, who does not want to avoid the best and knows the weight of history and the importance of the best. He is the main candidate to avoid Djokovic’s 24th Grand Slam and eighth title at the All England Club, with which he would match Roger Federer and remain one trophy away from Martina Navratilova, the most successful.

“I arrived at Queen’s without high expectations and won it. It was very good to play so well and the confidence increased a lot. Coming to Wimbledon with confidence makes me think that I can go far, but for me the main favorite is Djokovic. That’s obvious,” said the man from El Palmar. But my expectations are high. I think I will be able to put pressure on the other players, including Djokovic, but for now I can only say that I feel very confident and ready for a good result.”