Carlos Alcaraz to make last-gasp Italian Open call as star sweats over injury

Carlos Alcaraz is set to make a late decision on his Italian Open participation this weekend. The world No. 3 was forced to pull out of his home tournament in Madrid with two separate injuries, and did not know whether he’d be ready in time for the Masters 1000 in Rome.

Alcaraz has since returned to the practice court and will be put through his paces before making a call on whether to head to Italy to get some more matches under his belt before his French Open title defence.

The 21-year-old started the clay swing on a high when he was crowned the champion in Monte-Carlo and finished runner-up in Barcelona. But he picked up a right adductor injury during the Barcelona Open championship match

Alcaraz later withdrew from the Madrid Open, announcing that he was also suffering from a separate issue in his left hamstring, and said he would undergo further tests and scans to see how the injuries progressed.

It’s been good news for the Spaniard. According to Marca, the scans showed that the small tear in his adductor muscle was gone, and Alcaraz has since returned to the practice courts at home in Murcia.

He will now take things up a notch this weekend, playing more intense practice points and sets to see how his body holds up before deciding whether to play the Italian Open.

If he does opt to compete, Alcaraz is expected to travel to Rome on Tuesday, May 6 - one day after his 22nd birthday.

The world No. 3 has little experience at the Foro Italico - he played only once in 2023 and suffered a shock third-round defeat.

However, Alcaraz has already admitted it won’t be a big deal if he is forced to miss the Italian Open and go straight to Paris.

“My confidence is high, the last two weeks have been good for me,” he said when he pulled out of Madrid.

“Mentally, I have the strength to play good tennis again. If I don't play before Roland Garros, I don't care. I have the confidence and I know what my level is.”

The Italian Open has already suffered a huge blow, as six-time champion Novak Djokovic pulled out days after losing his opening match in Madrid. This is the first time in Djokovic’s career that he will miss the tournament since making his debut in 2007.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will make his return in Rome after suffering a three-month suspension as part of a case-resolution agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency. His ban ends on May 4, and he will be back in action next week.

Sinner was forced to skip his home tournament last year with a hip injury.