Alcaraz back from injury hoping to renew rivalry with Sinner at Italian Open
ROME (AP) 鈥 Carlos Alcaraz says he has recovered from the muscle injuries that forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open and is 鈥100% ready鈥 for the Italian Open 鈥 where he hopes to renew his rivalry with Jannik Sinner.
ROME (AP) 鈥 Carlos Alcaraz says he has recovered from the muscle injuries that forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open and is 鈥100% ready鈥 for the Italian Open 鈥 where he hopes to renew his rivalry with Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz had an upper leg ailment that bothered him during the , plus a left leg injury.
鈥淚鈥檓 in a good shape. I鈥檓 100% ready to start the tournament,鈥 Alcaraz said in Rome on Thursday.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Alcaraz opens against Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic on Friday. During the Spaniard鈥檚 Rome debut last year, he lost to then-135th-ranked Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in the third round as he dealt with a bothersome right forearm issue.
But Alcaraz then went on to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon.
鈥淟ast year was even more difficult,鈥 Alcaraz said, noting how this clay season he has already won the Monte Carlo Masters and reached the final in Barcelona, where he lost to Holger Rune.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 worried at all,鈥 Alcaraz said. 鈥淩ight now I have confidence. The practices (have gone) well. ... I can鈥檛 wait for tomorrow. I think my level is in a good spot.鈥
The Rome tournament also marks the return of top-ranked Sinner from a three-month doping ban.
Sinner and Alcaraz are in opposite sides of the draw.
鈥淚鈥檓 really happy to have him around again,鈥 Alcaraz said. 鈥淥bviously for him was tough and I鈥檓 pretty sure was super long. 鈥 It is great for me, for tennis, for the fans, that he鈥檚 able to play a tournament again.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥淗opefully,鈥 the third-ranked Alcaraz added, 鈥淚鈥檓 going to meet him at the final.鈥
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation