Alcaraz has Grade 2 Ankle Sprain, Hopeful for Las Vegas Exo and Indian Wells

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday February 21, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz has revealed the details of the ankle injury that forced him to retire from his first-round match at the Rio Open on Tuesday.

Per ESPN, the second-ranked Spaniard says he has a Grade 2 sprain and hopes to be able to play at his exhibition with Rafael Nadal on March 3rd in Las Vegas, as well as this year’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, which begins later that week.

“I just had an MRI on my ankle after yesterday’s injury,” he said. “After the meeting with my doctor Dr. Lopez Martinez and my physiotherapists Juanjo Moreno and Sergio Kine, the diagnosis is a grade 2 lateral sprain. I have a sprain that will keep me out for a few days. See you in Las Vegas and Indian Wells.”

Carlitos Alcaraz confirmó la gravedad de su lesión. 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/TmLr45P03v

— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) February 21, 2024

Alcaraz took a tumble just two points into his match against Thiago Monteiro on Wednesday in Rio and retired after just two games.

“I felt bad,” Alcaraz said. “That was the first impression I had. I mean, I was feeling pain once I fall down, so I thought that it was going to be difficult to continue playing if I was still having those feelings.

“After a few points it didn’t feel better. I was feeling the pain. I couldn’t move well, and I knew that it was going to be impossible to continue. I thought it was going to get worse if I kept playing for such a long match and that’s why I choose to retire.”