Tennis: victim of forearm pain, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from the Rome tournament three weeks before Roland-Garros

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has been hampered by a forearm injury for several weeks. MAXPPP – Juanjo Martin

The world No.3 has had a series of problems since the opening of the clay-court season.

World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz will not play the Masters 1000 in Rome from next week due to his right forearm being sore again after his resumption in Madrid, he said announced on social networks Friday, three weeks before Roland-Garros.

I need rest to recover and be able to play without any pain

"I felt some pain, some discomfort in my arm after playing in Madrid. I had exams today (Friday) and I have muscle edema in the pronator teres (a forearm muscle), consequence of my recent injury. Unfortunately I won't be able to play in Rome. I need rest to recover and be able to play without any pain", explained the young Spanish player, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on Sunday.

Three week alert from Roland

This new setback necessarily raises questions about his ability to be physically ready for Roland-Garros, which begins on May 26. After being deprived of the start of the season on clay by his painful right forearm (Monte-Carlo and Barcelona), Alcaraz had just returned to the Spanish capital after a month without competition.

He lost in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, against world No.8 Andrey Rublev (4-6, 6-3, 6-2), after winning his first three matches . Arriving in Madrid without having touched the racket for a week, Juan Carlos Ferrero's protégé only registered his participation on the eve of his entry into the running.

I have to be patient, but I leave Madrid with good sensations in my forearm

"Here in Madrid, every time I hit a forehand, I think about my forearm, if I'm going to feel it or not" , he said after his elimination, while describing his week as "very positive", and then showing optimism about the Rome tournament. "I'm going to have to work hard in the coming days if I want to go to Rome with good feelings, without thinking about my forearm, without pain , he continued. I imagine it will be a slow process, I have to be patient, but I am leaving Madrid with good sensations in my forearm.& quot; Alcaraz reached the final four at Roland-Garros a year ago.