Carlos Alcaraz Injury Scare Dampens Opening Win in Barcelona

Just under 48 hours after losing the Monte Carlo final to Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz returned to the court in Barcelona in what proved to be a triumphant homecoming for the Spaniard.

Facing heavy-hitting Otto Virtanen, Alcaraz came through a closely fought straight-sets victory, winning 6-4 6-2 to book his place in the Round of 16.

Rusty Start After Quick Turnaround

Entering the match with minimal practice on the Barcelona clay due to the short turnaround from Monte Carlo, Alcaraz started slowly, committing a number of errors, particularly off his backhand. That led to an intense opening phase, with the Spaniard forced to save four break points across his first three service games just to stay on serve.

With the first set finely poised at 4-4, the match took an unexpected turn as Alcaraz called for a medical timeout. The physio was summoned for an apparent issue with his right wrist and forearm. The Spaniard was visibly grimacing, explaining that he felt pain in his right arm whenever he hit a forehand or a return.

Despite the concern, Alcaraz opted not to retire and instead had his wrist taped before continuing. Following the medical timeout, Alcaraz found a surge of momentum, winning four consecutive games to close out the first set and take early control of the second.

Although his level remained somewhat patchy, that decisive stretch proved enough to keep the match firmly in his control, as he wrapped up the victory in straight sets. While the win marks a positive return to form, the primary concern now is the wrist/forearm issue.

Injury Concerns Ahead of French Open

Alcaraz dealt with a similar right forearm problem during the 2024 clay swing, which forced him to miss Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and the Rome Masters ahead of the French Open. Alcaraz himself spoke about the issue after the match, telling local media:

“I’m playing a lot of matches in just a few days and with very little rest. The physio will assess me, but I think it won’t be anything serious and we’ll be able to take to the court on Thursday.”

Despite his optimism, Alcaraz will likely take no unnecessary risks, especially with the French Open just 40 days away. For now, all eyes in Barcelona remain on his fitness. Should he be ready to continue, he is set to face Tomas Machac on Thursday for a place in the Barcelona Open quarterfinals.