Similarity Of Alcaraz's Injuries To Nadal's Makes Former Pro Worried

Wednesday, 06 December 2023 at 22:25

byEvita Mueller

Former player Andrea Petkovic worries that Carlos Alcaraz could be injury-prone after observing how players' careers unfolded.

Petkovic was on the professional tennis circuit for many years, observing both how she and other athletes held up over the years. She noticed some trends that made her worry about Carlos Alcaraz's longevity.

One thing that she noticed is if a player had an early injury. Petkovic says it tends to linger throughout their career even though we have no scientific studies to back it up.

In some ways, it could make sense as Petkovic qualified her comments by stating it's generally for those players who are still growing at the time.

I have observed the thing with athletes, with colleagues that I've been next to for past 20 years. When someone has an injury very early on in their career, it seems to just keep bothering them in the same place. But I think it's when you're still growing.

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It's a thought-provoking comment that could be rationalized. Perhaps the body is a bit more vulnerable when it grows, and an injury during that time could make that body part a bit weaker compared to the rest.

The former German player used Rafael Nadal's example as somebody who had some early injuries that never really went away.

I am [worried about Alcaraz]! Same with Rafa, Rafa had a bad injury early on, and he always had injuries. If you look at someone like Djokovic, Roger... they were never injured. I do think if you're unlucky at the beginning of your career, while you're still growing with a big injury, it tends to come bite you back in the a**.

It's not the first time somebody mentioned injuries for Alcaraz. He's had quite a few, and his style of play isn't one that his body will appreciate long-term.