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Carlos Alcaraz Gives Crucial Fitness Update After Barcelona Open Victory, Confirms 'Recurring Issue'
Carlos Alcaraz has given a fitness update after battling through discomfort in his opening match at the Barcelona Open.
The world No. 2, who lost the Monte Carlo Masters final 6-7, 3-6 to Jannik Sinner on Sunday, arrived in Barcelona aiming for his third title at the event. On Tuesday, he defeated Finland’s Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 but required physio attention at 5-4 in the first set, with his right wrist being taped.
“Well, to be honest, it’s been tough, it’s been a bit of a struggle,” Alcaraz admitted in his post-match press conference.
“In the end, my first contact with Barcelona was this morning, for about an hour, and then I had to jump right onto the court to compete, and the conditions are completely different. It was a little difficult, especially at the beginning, to get into a good rhythm… but little by little I think we started feeling better, adapting more and more to the conditions in Barcelona and ending up playing at a good level," he added.
The star player also confirmed a recurring issue and also confirmed that the issue didn't develop into a serious one.
“It’s just discomfort, discomfort that pops up, considering the few days I’ve had to recover, when everything has been practically back-to-back, so in the end things come up in some unusual movements. Now the physio will see me, we’ll talk with the team, and we’ll see. It’s a discomfort I’ve had before, which has never led to anything more serious, so let’s hope it’s the same this time.”
Despite the wrist issue and limited preparation time, Alcaraz converted four of seven break points and won 70% of points on Virtanen’s second serve. He hit 11 winners but committed 32 unforced errors – an area he will look to tighten against Tomas Machac in the next round. Machac, ranked No. 47, recently pushed Sinner to three sets in Monte Carlo and has a 1-1 head-to-head record with Alcaraz.
The quick turnaround from Monte Carlo has clearly tested Alcaraz physically, coming just days after his final loss where Sinner also reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking. The Spaniard is working with coach Samuel López following the end of his long-term partnership with Juan Carlos Ferrero in late 2025.
Clay remains widely regarded as Alcaraz’s strongest surface, suiting his powerful topspin, athleticism and point construction in extended rallies. With the busy European clay season underway, managing this recurring wrist discomfort will be key as he bids for further success in Barcelona and the upcoming events.
Story first published: Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 13:36 [IST]
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