Alcaraz: "I will be recovered to defend my title in Indian Wells"
World number two Carlos Alcaraz states that the ankle sprain that forced him to leave the Rio ATP Open will keep him on the sidelines for "a few days", but that he will be ready to defend his title at Indian Wells after an exhibition against Rafael Nadal in Las Vegas.
"I just had an MRI on my ankle after yesterday's injury," Alcaraz wrote on Instagram. "After meeting with my doctor and physiotherapists, the diagnosis is a grade II lateral sprain."
"I have a sprain that will prevent me from playing for a few days! See you in Las Vegas and Indian Wells!"
Alcaraz injured himself on the second point of his first round match against Brazilian wild card Thiago Monteiro, his right foot getting stuck in the red clay of Jockey Club Brasiliero.
After taking a brutal fall, he limped to his chair, where, during a medical timeout, a physiotherapist tapped his swollen right ankle. He came back to win the interrupted first game, but after losing his serve in the second, he decided to retire.
Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference that the physiotherapists had indicated that the injury was "not serious" and that further examinations on Wednesday confirmed this.
He still intends to play an exhibition match for Netflix on March 3rd in Las Vegas against Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam tournaments.
This encounter, which will take place at the Michelob Ultra Arena of Mandalay Bay Resort, is part of Nadal's return to the courts after nearly a year's absence due to injury.
At Indian Wells, the main draw will start on March 6, where all the seeds are given a bye for the first round.
Alcaraz beat Daniil Medvedev 6/3, 6/2 in the final to win the title in the California desert last year and reclaim the world number one spot.
He had become the youngest male world number one after winning the US Open at the age of 19 in 2022, but his 2022 season was shortened by an abdominal tear at the Paris Masters in November of the same year and he missed the 2023 Australian Open due to a hamstring injury sustained in training.
Last April, the 20-year-old also had to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters due to back problems and arthritis pains in his left hand, but he won his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July.
Alcaraz's latest injury comes as Italian Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner is closing in on the world number two spot.
Alcaraz is ahead of Sinner - who won the Rotterdam title on Sunday - by only 535 points and has 1,000 points to defend at Indian Wells.
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