Carlos Alcaraz gives injury update ahead of Italian Open

Carlos Alcaraz has revealed that he is good to go at the Italian Open and he 100% fit to play in the tournament. The Spaniard recently decided to opt out of the Madrid Open due to an injury. The youngster revealed he suffered a hamstring injury during the Barcelona Open final, which he lost in straight sets (7-6, 6-2) against Holger Rune.

Before the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz had won the Monte-Carlo Masters and had admitted it was not easy for him to win back-to-back titles as he didn’t get much time to recharge his batteries.

“I’m really happy to be here in Rome. It’s the second time that I’m going to play here, so I’m excited. The practises were great so far. I’m in good shape. I’m 100 per cent ready to start the tournament. So I just can’t wait for tomorrow,” Alcaraz said in his pre-tournament press conference on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s arch-rival Jannik Sinner will return to the tour in Rome after serving his three-month doping ban. 

“It is great. I’m really happy to have him around again,” said Alcaraz, who leads Sinner 6-4 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “It’s been three months. Obviously, for him [it] was tough and I’m pretty sure [it] was super long. I think [there isn’t] a better place to come back than here in his home, in Rome.

“We are in different sides of the draw. Hopefully, I’m going to meet him at the final… I’m really happy to see him, his team around. I think I’m going to enjoy watching him play again, his matches. For the people, I think [it] is great.”

The youngster also opened up on the success of his Netflix documentary, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way.

“I was nervous honestly because I didn’t know how it’s going to be for the people when they watch it, how their reactions are going to be,” Alcaraz said.  “I liked it. I just really wanted people [to] enjoy watching it. So far the reactions have been super positive, which for me it was great. Some players told me that they loved it. It was really honest, as well.

“I [am] just super happy that there was a great impact for the people, for the fans. I just [tried] to show my [personality], how I am, and how I was struggling, my thoughts in my head. I’m just really happy about how the people watch it.”

Alcaraz will begin his Italian Open campaign against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.