Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Bologna on Monday, where the Davis Cup Finals will take place starting this Thursday, and the worst predictions about his physical condition were confirmed. After a 330-kilometer van trip from Turin, the world number one underwent medical tests to assess the severity of his injury in the right thigh, and as the player has confirmed, an injury will prevent him from competing for the Davis Cup.
The Spanish tennis player wrote on social media that his thigh problems are more than just a discomfort: "I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to play for Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna... I have an edema in the hamstring of my right leg, and the medical recommendation is not to compete."
For the player from Murcia, playing for Spain has always been "the greatest thing there is," and he has confessed that he was "very excited to be able to help fight for the Davis Cup." "I am going home hurt...," he concluded his statement.
The team debuts on Thursday against the Czech Republic, and it was planned for their main player to compete in both singles and doubles. One solution could be to save him for the semifinal on Saturday or the final on Sunday, in case Spain advances, but ultimately he will not be among the eligible players for David Ferrer.
The number one noticed the problem in the first set of the ATP Finals final against Jannik Sinner and called the organization's doctor twice to relieve the area and continue playing. In the second intervention, he was given a bulky bandage. According to Alcaraz himself, the pain was not the reason for his defeat, but with the strain, he changed his playing style, coming to the net more to shorten the exchanges, which condemned him in key moments like the first set tie-break.
After all, this is not an unknown injury for Alcaraz. Two years ago, in the midst of his growth, a very similar ailment already forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open and bothered him for months; he even won Wimbledon 2023 with a bandage in that area. This season, a micro-tear in his right thigh affected him in the Godó final against Holger Rune and led him to withdraw from the Madrid Masters 1000.