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A few minutes after his sudden withdrawal against Holger Rune during the clash of teenagers in the quarterfinals, Carlos Alcaraz came to explain himself in a press conference. Without going into details, the Spaniard explained that he had felt a pain in his abdominal muscles and preferred to save his energy for the end of the year Masters, where he will defend his place as world number one.
The “mystery”, if it is one, is not completely solved. Many were taken aback when Carlos Alcaraz abruptly threw in the towel in the middle of the second set tiebreak against Holger Rune on Friday in the clash of teenagers in the quarterfinals of the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000.
A few moments earlier, during the side change at 6-5, the Spaniard had certainly called the physio to be manipulated in the abdominal area, obviously embarrassed. But from there to foresee this dramatic end between the two stars in the making of world tennis, there was a step that we did not dare to imagine.
I felt pain in my abdominal area and towards the end of the set, it was getting worse and worse,” confirmed the world No. 1, without specifying when the pain started, or whether it came on suddenly or gradually. I couldn’t serve properly or hit my forehand anymore. I could feel the pain when I stretched the muscle. I preferred to withdraw, as a precaution.”
The prodigy from Murcia then said his desire to arrive at 100% for the year-end Masters, which will take place from November 13 to 20 in Turin. And where he will defend his place as world No. 1 at the end of the season, which remains, with this defeat, under threat from Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas, if the latter wins tonight against Tommy Paul.
It is understandable, it is defensible, but is it a good idea? Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Paris with a creaky knee and left with his abs whistling. If he wants to chase the carrot (certainly appetizing) at the end of the year, he should not lose everything.
