Carlos Alcaraz wants to compete at the 2024 Madrid Open, and that's why he'll travel to the Spanish capital.
The 20-year-old has been in the spotlight ever since his breakthrough in 2022, and even though he's already managed to reach the world no. 1 spot and win two majors, the crazy predictions about his future seemingly got a little bit more silent.
That isn't because he wouldn't be a good player anymore, but in recent months, Alcaraz has struggled with various injury issues once again, which prompted him to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters, and subsequently, also pull out of the Barcelona Open.
After his withdrawal from the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona, the Spaniard disclosed that his tests showed no injury, but he still felt discomfort, mostly when hitting his forehand, and that's why he opted to withdraw.
With the Madrid Open around the corner, he faces a race against time, with the second clay-court ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year running from April 24th to May 5th, 2024.
Alcaraz doesn't want to risk anything, traveling to the Spanish capital early on Saturday, according to reports. After his arrival, he should undergo tests at the official facilities in Madrid before deciding about his participation at La Caja Magica.
Although these tests will likely determine whether he will be able to compete at the tournament where he's the defending champion, his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open showed that even the tests can be misleading.
Still, as a seeded player, Alcaraz won't have to play in the first round, postponing the start of the tournament for him from Wednesday to Friday or Saturday.
At the event, he will be the third seed, if he competes, once again making him vulnerable to a possible semi-final clash with the top-seeded Novak Djokovic.