Carlos Alcaraz, the current defending champion at the Madrid Open, has been facing some challenges with his forehand following an arm injury that disrupted the beginning of his clay-court season. The young 20-year-old player, who recently defended his Indian Wells title and reached the quarterfinals at the Miami Open, injured his right forearm during a practice session in Monaco. This forced him to miss the Monte Carlo and Barcelona tournaments before making a comeback in Madrid.
Alcaraz revealed that his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, has advised him to slightly tweak his playing style in order to ease the pressure on his arm. The world No. 3 admitted that he still has doubts about how his arm will react when hitting a forehand hard. Despite being pain-free, Alcaraz stated that he lacks full confidence in his forearm and that it is affecting his game mentally.
The Spanish player admitted that he is playing differently due to these doubts and is no longer pushing his forehand to the extreme as he used to. Alcaraz emphasized that he needs time to overcome these mental barriers and build back his trust in his forearm. Although he is satisfied with his overall performance and movement on the court, he understands the importance of letting go of these lingering thoughts in order to fully focus on his game.
As Alcaraz prepares to face Jan-Lennard Struff in the upcoming match, he is determined to work through his doubts and regain his confidence on the court. The young talent is aiming for a third consecutive victory at the Madrid Open, with his sights set on performing well at the French Open next month. Despite the challenges he has faced, Alcaraz remains optimistic about his recovery and is eager to showcase his full potential in the upcoming matches.