World number one Carlos Alcaraz had fans fearing about his fitness just four weeks out from the opening Grand Slam tournament of the season. The Spaniard looked off the pace and had his right arm tapped up as he suffered a defeat to Casper Ruud at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships exhibition event this week.
An abdominal problem ruled Alcaraz out of the season ending ATP Finals and he looked short of fitness during a 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Rudd in the third-place play-off match in Abu Dhabi. Portuguese tennis commentator José Morgado was one of those who expressed concern for the Spaniard’s fitness after watching the defeat.
He tweeted: “Alcaraz far from his usual intensity and level. Tough to say if he is just out of shape/form post injury or if this got something to do with the fact this is a pre-season exhibition. Four weeks to go till the Aus Open. Alcaraz, with the right arm tapped, not going for a single flat serve all match (just kick and slice 160-170kmh), but ground strokes looking better in the 2nd set.
“It’s pretty clear Alcaraz still needs time to practice till the Aus Open.” He also quoted Alcaraz as saying: “I decided to sacrifice the tournaments from the start of the year to focus on the big one. That’s why I’m just playing Kooyong. The focus is on getting better and be ready”.
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After the match Alcaraz provided his own injury update and said he is “almost 100 percent” fit after recovering from the abdominal problem which saw him retire from the Paris Masters before missing the Davis Cup and the ATP Finals. The world number one said: “I feel good finally. I had a month to recover well the ab and right now I feel almost 100 percent.
“I have been training normally this past week and I’m feeling great.” Alcaraz, aged 19, has added expectation after winning his first Grand Slam at the US Open and admitted he now has a ‘target on my back’.
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