Carlos Alcaraz to have ankle tests after injury forces retirement in Rio - 'I couldn't move well'
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Published 21/02/2024 at 09:49 GMT
Carlos Alcaraz was forced to retire in just the second game of his Rio Open first-round match against Thiago Monteiro with an ankle injury and revealed afterwards that he will have tests to determine the extent of the problem. The top seed said he hopes the issue is not serious and still believes he can take on Rafael Nadal in a planned exhibition match in the coming weeks.
Is Alcaraz a showman? 'He's lacking discipline' - Expert reaction
Carlos Alcaraz has revealed he will have tests on an ankle injury that forced him to retire from his Rio Open first-round match.
Top seed Alcaraz appeared to twist his ankle in just the second game of his match against Thiago Monteiro and needed treatment.
Despite attempting to continue, the Spaniard opted to retire at 1-1.
"Tomorrow I'll have a test for my ankle and let's see if it's something serious or not," Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference afterwards.
"I felt bad. That was the first impression I had. I was feeling pain once I fell down, so I thought it was going to be difficult to continue if I was still having those feelings.
"After a few points it didn't feel better. I couldn't move well and I knew that it was going to be impossible to continue. I thought it was going to get worse if I kept playing for such a long match and that's why I chose to retire."
Alcaraz had reached the last two finals in Rio, winning the tournament in 2022 and losing to Cameron Norrie a year later.
The two-time Grand Slam winner is scheduled to face compatriot and tennis legend Rafael Nadal in an exhibition match in Las Vegas on March 3.
“I hope to be ready for the match,” he added. “And I will work to be ready. But I don't know yet. That's the truth.
“The physio told me that they think that it's not serious. So I think I have time to recover and be ready for that match.
“But, you know, you never know. So let's see.”
Elsewhere in the Rio draw, Yannick Hanfmann shocked third seed Nicolas Jarry, while Chile's Cristian Garin also advanced to the last 16 by beating Roberto Carballes Baena.
Alcaraz will look to defend his Indian Wells title later in March.
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