Oh no! This is the last thing Carlos Alcaraz would have wanted right before the US Open. With the final Grand Slam of the year just around the corner, every player is focused on fine-tuning their game and staying in peak condition. But in a shocking turn of events, Alcaraz found himself in a nerve-wracking situation during a practice match, leaving everyone holding their breath. The young tennis sensation might be facing an unexpected hurdle now, just days before the big event.

Practicing against Francisco Cerundolo, Alcaraz hurt his ankle while returning a serve. He was seen grabbing his leg as he looked in agony and pain. He immediately stopped playing after the incident and walked out to the sidelines of the courts as he stood perplexed holding his ankle. 

Alcaraz was seen engaging in chatter with his team after the incident and finally decided to cut short his practice. He soon made an exit from the court as the stress looked evident on his face before finally leaving the court. Interestingly, similar scenes have unfolded for the 37-year-old Novak Djokovic as well.

Ahead of his Flushing Meadows campaign, Djokovic initially attended practice sessions without wearing any knee brace. However, as he took to the Arthur Ashe Stadium to engage in a friendly match with Juan Martin Del Potro, the New York crowd witnessed him wearing a compression sleeve. He further cut short his practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, reportedly due to a back injury.

While Djokovic can’t afford an injury at this stage of his career, for Alcaraz, this can be an even bigger setback. The Spaniard has won two consecutive Grand Slams this season at the French Open and Wimbledon. Besides, he clinched the silver medal for his country in the recently concluded Paris Olympics, in his maiden appearance.

As he gears up for another Grand Slam victory, the latest injury is indeed troublesome for the 21-year-old, especially when he has the opportunity to join an elite list.

Can Carlos Alcaraz equate Rafael Nadal’s impressive record at the US Open?

Very few players in the history of the game have won the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open in the same year. In men’s tennis, it was Rafael Nadal who created history by winning majors on clay, grass, and hard courts in what he called his “best season” – 2010. But mind you, he was the first man (and fourth in the history of the sport) to achieve this feat since Rod Laver, who did it in 1969. Fast forward to the present, and Alcaraz has the opportunity to etch his name on the same list.

Alcaraz has already won the French Open and Wimbledon this year. If he wins the US Open too, he will join Nadal’s historical record. Renowned journalist Jon Wertheim reflected upon this recently. Speaking on the August 16th episode of Tennis Channel Live Podcast, Wertheim said, “Keep in mind neither Federer, nor Djokovic has won the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, gone summer three. Nadal did it in 2010. So year, Carlos Alcaraz we talk about him he’s an emerging player and if he wins the US Open, he will be in some very fast company.”

As the US Open draws near, it would be interesting to see if Alcaraz can overcome the injury menace and win big in the tournament.