World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz says his recovery from a recent injury setback is progressing well and he expects to be fully fit by the start of 2023.
The 19-year-old burst onto the Tour this season with a meteoric rise that saw him lift five Tour titles, including two Masters 1000 trophies and the US Open crown. However, his year came to a premature end due to a muscle tear in his abdomen which forced him to pull out of this week’s ATP Finals. Alcaraz has previously said the estimated recovery time from his injury is around six weeks.
Providing an update on his fitness during a special presentation where he was presented with the year-end No.1 trophy in Turin, the Spaniard said his recovery is ‘going really fast.’ According to a report by sports newspaper Marca, he will not play any Tour matches until the Australian Open in January. Leading up to the Grand Slam he will instead play exhibition events in Abu Dhabi and Kooyong. The idea is to have a long offseason.
“It is going really well. Is going really fast, as well,” Alcaraz said of his injury recovery. “I’m focused on recovering as soon as possible. But I could say in a week we (my team) have improved a lot with my injury.’
“At the beginning of the season, I’m going to be ready, I’m going to be 100%.”
Alcaraz is the youngest player in history to finish the season as world No.1 on the ATP Tour. A record which was previously held by Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt. After making his top-10 debut in April, he stormed to the top of the standings in just 140 days. He has already spent more weeks as No.1 than Juan Carlos Ferrero, Thomas Muster and Marcelo Rios.
“I’m really grateful to lift this amazing (year-end No.1) trophy. It’s an amazing achievement,” he said. “All the hard work pays off. For me, it’s incredible to lift this trophy.”
As for his goal in the future, Alcaraz is aiming to add more Grand Slam titles to his name. His triumph at Flushing Meadows in September made him the youngest male Grand Slam winner since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
“The first goal next year will be Grand Slams. I don’t mean that the rest of it doesn’t matter, but really, the focus is on Slams.” Tennis Majors quoted him as saying in Spanish.
Alcaraz has won 57 out of 70 matches played in 2022.
