Alcaraz, Corretja explain why there's pessimism for Jannik Sinner rival: "C'enter grass fields"

Carlos Alcaraz will be the big absentee in Rome and Roland Garros.

The world number two had to stop due to a wrist problem and has not specified at the moment the date for his return. Many fear that in addition to the Slam in France, the Murcia champion will also have to skip Wimbledon in order not to take any risks and recover 100% from his injury.

Alex Corretja, a former Spanish tennis player and now a commentator for Eurosport, confessed his pessimism about the seven-time Slam champion’s recovery in an interview with Radio Cope: “We have to be extremely patient. For now, we have to focus on the present, let the tendon heal as best we can, and not set a specific date.”

“I have the feeling that only after about a month and a half, during which he will be out of competition, will we see if he can resume training and start the season on grass.” It is the grass courts, according to Corretja, that are the main obstacle for Carlos.

“It won’t be easy because on grass sometimes you make wrong movements, you get hit by even faster serves and that can hurt your wrist. So I’m not sure if he will be ready for Wimbledon. The problem is that I have no idea how long his recovery will be. Like everybody, I would like him to come back as soon as possible, but for now I think, ‘We’ll see what happens.’ He will only come back when he feels ready.”

Spanish media recall how another great Iberian champion, Rafael Nadal, experienced similar situations during his career: in 2014 he was out for three months due to a posterior ulnar tendon sheath desinsertion, while in 2016 he was forced to miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon, returning only to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Like Nadal, Alcaraz chose conservative treatment: ice to reduce inflammation, immobilization of the wrist with a brace, absolute rest, and zero activity with the hand.