MADRID, 21 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz was forced to retire this Tuesday during his debut in the tournament in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), scoring for the ATP and which is played on clay, after suffering an ankle injury at the beginning of his match against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro.
The Murcian was playing the first game of the match when, during the second point, he sprained his joint while trying to correct his position when his rival had played against him. The world number two was left sore on the court and went to his chair helped by Monteiro and the chair umpire.
The Spaniard's gesture was one of concern, but despite this, and after bandaging his ankle, he decided to return to the track to test his feelings. In fact, he managed to break the Brazilian's serve, but with mobility problems and after giving up his own, he decided to retire permanently.
“I think these things happen, especially when you play on clay. It wasn't a problem with the court, I hurt myself in a change of direction and that happens on clay,” said Alcaraz, who was a finalist in Rio last year. de Janeiro and will therefore lose valuable points in the ranking.
The one from El Palmar, who started as the first seed, returned to the match to see if he could “continue or not.” “I spoke with the physio on the track and we decided together that I would continue to see if it improved. It didn't, so we preferred to be cautious and abandon as a precaution. They told me that it is not serious, I will rest and on Wednesday I will take the tests,” he remarked. Alcaraz in statements collected by the ATP website.
The world number two hopes that the mishap is not serious and that it does not compromise the American season on hard courts with the first two Masters 1,000 of the season, in Indian Wells, where he is defending his title, and in Miami. In addition, on March 3 he has an exhibition scheduled in Las Vegas with Rafa Nadal.
On the other hand, the Tenerife tennis player Roberto Carballés could not overcome his debut on the Brazilian red clay either, losing to the Chilean Cristian Garín in three sets 6-2, 6-7(1), 6-3.