worst omens confirmed
Rio de Janeiro will always be a special city for Carlos Alcaraz. The ATP 500 tournament, which takes place on the clay courts of the Jockey Club of Brazil, gave Murcian an invitation when he was 16 years old in 2020, and he took advantage of this by signing his first victory on the main circuit, at the expense of a veteran type Albert Ramos.
A preview of what’s to come later, also in Rio, as he won the 2022 tournament. He did not repeat the tournament in 2023 because he was injured while playing the British in the final. Cameron Norriewho is currently defending this crown.
Reconquest operation Alcaraz He was due to start this Tuesday, but the worst omens came to pass in Rio de Janeiro and it was a bitter day for the 20-year-old Spaniard, world number two.
There is no greater enemy to an open tennis tournament than rain, which disrupts the order of play established from the very beginning.
The matches were due to start at 16:30 local time and 20:30 Central European time, but there was a delay of almost four hours. When the launch was attempted, at 19:15, 23:15 CET, after the fifth program change, the storm intensified again. Another delay.
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Guga Kuerten trackThe central part of the complex was opened by the recent winner of the ATP tournament in Buenos Aires, an Argentinean. Facundo Diaz Acostaand former Swiss Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. They met on the court at 19:23 in Rio, at 23:23 Spanish peninsula time. Let’s play underwater for a few minutes.
Next turn Carlos Alcaraz and Thiago Monteiro. First round, 32-elimination round. And if rain is a nightmare for an organization, then for an athlete there is nothing worse than injury.
Fall, injury and refusal to participate
The right ankle was injured already in the third point of the match. Unfortunate fall after sprain. Medical assistance, ligation of the joint, but it is impossible to save.
Carlos Alcaraz stayed on the track for a few more points. At 1-1 he refused, avoiding further danger and worsening the physical problem. The joint is swollen. There was no cure. The score is 1:1, we return to the locker room.
His right ankle was sprained in an unfortunate position on the rain-damaged track and he fell hard to the ground. He immediately realized that he was injured.
This is what Carlos Alcaraz’s ankle looked like after the fall.
The day has been long and difficult for everyone, but especially brutal for Carlos Alcaraz, who is awaiting appropriate medical tests to find out the exact extent of the injury.