Carlos Alcaraz expected to miss another event this year after wrist injury setback

Carlos Alcaraz may need to pull out of yet another tournament as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury.

The Spaniard has already missed the French Open, Italian Open and Madrid Open this year after picking up the issue during training.

It’s not yet clear if he’ll be available for Wimbledon, but even before that, there’s doubt over whether he’ll be fit for Spain’s Davis Cup quarter-final against Serbia in July.

Former coach Riccardo Piatti told Corriere della Sera: “He hasn’t played since early April and returning at his level will take at least six to eight weeks.

Carlos Alcaraz expected to skip Spain’s Davis Cup qualifier

Alcaraz completed his Career Grand Slam earlier this year by winning the Australian Open, and when asked which titles he still wants to win, the Davis Cup was among those he mentioned.

Spain are scheduled to play Chile in their second Davis Cup qualifier later this year in South America, but former world number 31 Horacio de la Peña doesn’t expect Alcaraz to take part.

“I see it as a very interesting match-up. I think that, given the dates and his injury, Alcaraz will not be able to play,” De la Peña told Clay.

“[Alejandro] Davidovich Fokina will find it very difficult as the top player. Two young players with enormous potential have emerged — Rafael Jódar and Martín Landaluce — and the rest of the Spanish players are at a similar level to the Chileans.

“Chile will need to make the most of home advantage. It is genuinely very difficult for any team to come and compete in Chile expecting to take the win.”

De la Peña was then asked who he thinks is the favourite for this year’s title and backed Chile because of their home advantage.

Roberto Bautista Agut also believes that Alcaraz will miss this year’s tie. Last year, a hamstring injury kept Alcaraz out of the Davis Cup Finals, and according to De la Peña, Spain might not even make it that far this time around.

Horacio de la Peña discusses how modern players are approaching the Davis Cup

The Davis Cup has been under fire since its format change in 2019, which did away with many of the traditional home-and-away fixtures that had defined the competition for so long.

While there has been a push to bring back some elements of the old structure, participation from top players remains an issue.

“No, it is not that they prioritise one over the other,” De la Peña explained. “The reality is that unfortunately they have had three consecutive years with a very poor draw, having to play indoors, on hard courts, away from home.

“That is simply what they have had to deal with. It is a shame. I can speak more closely about what happened to Tomás Etcheverry — last year, when I was coaching him, we went to Norway and he came back destroyed.

“By the time the clay court swing came around he was exhausted from the changes in climate, ball and everything else. It takes a tremendous toll. Argentina has had very bad luck in recent draws.”

The next round of Davis Cup qualifiers will be played in September following the conclusion of the US Open.

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