Alcaraz Reveals Extent Of Ankle Injury Absence After Undergoing MRI Scan

Carlos Alcaraz hurt himself in the opening stages of his first-round match at the Rio Open this week, leaving tennis fans and tournament organizers in a state of shock.

The Spaniard slipped on the baseline under minimal pressure and twisted his ankle. At first glance, it looked frightening, and the pictures of Alcaraz in a heap of pain and with a swollen ankle while sitting on his chair generated widespread anxiety.

Despite receiving treatment on the court, it was clear that he was unlikely to continue, and predictably, he retired after just points, handing home favorite Thiago Monteiro free passage into the second round of the tournament.

The Golden Swing ended dismally for Alcaraz, who stumbled again in his bid to win his first title since 2023 Wimbledon. Even with the familiar voice of Juan Carlos Ferrero in his coaching corner, he fell to a shock defeat at last week's Argentina Open, where Alcaraz made a fortune in appearance fees.

Immediately after his retirement in Rio, Alcaraz remained upbeat that the injury was not as bad as it looked and that he would undergo scans to determine the severity of the ankle damage and the length of his recovery time.

Alcaraz has since received a report from his doctors after completing an MRI scan and shared the update on his X account (formerly Twitter). He stated that he suffered a grade II lateral sprain on the ankle and that he expects to sit out "for a few days."

The news is certainly music to the ears of tournament organizers of the Netflix Slam, who are banking on him and Rafael Nadal to headline a blockbuster singles match that will be streamed on Netflix in early March. Alcaraz is also scheduled to appear at Indian Wells to defend his title on March 6th.