Carlos Alcaraz has declared himself fit and firing ahead of the Italian Open, following a brief injury layoff that saw him miss the Madrid Open last month. The Spaniard, who turns 22 this week, said he is fully recovered from the hamstring and groin issues sustained during the Barcelona Open final, and is eager to return to competitive action in Rome.
“I’m really happy to be here in Rome… The practices were great so far. I’m in good shape, I’m 100% ready to start the tournament,” Alcaraz told reporters on Thursday. The world No. 3 received a bye into the second round, where he will face Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
Alcaraz had enjoyed a strong run during the clay season, with solid performances in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, before choosing to take a brief break to ensure his readiness for the upcoming French Open, where he will defend his title. “I couldn’t play Madrid, which is a special tournament for me, but I wasn’t too worried. I just needed a bit of time to recover,” he added.
The young Spaniard also welcomed the return of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is poised to make his comeback on home soil after serving a three-month doping ban. Despite the absence, Sinner has retained his top ranking and will play his first match since winning the Australian Open in January.
“Honestly, I’m really happy to have him around again. It’s been three months. Obviously for him it was tough,” said Alcaraz. “I think there isn’t a better place to come back than here in Rome. It’s great for me, for tennis, and for the fans to see him again.”
Alcaraz and Sinner are on opposite sides of the draw, meaning a potential showdown in the final is on the cards—something Alcaraz is already looking forward to. “I think I’m going to enjoy watching him playing again, and I hope we meet in the final.”
The Italian Open is seen as a key warm-up event ahead of Roland Garros, with both Alcaraz and Sinner expected to play central roles in the clay-court Grand Slam later this month.
