Alcaraz’s US Open Prep Faces Scrutiny

Carlos Alcaraz returned to the US Open after a wrist injury, pairing with Serena Williams in mixed doubles and winning his first match. Tennis365.com reports that his practice routine has drawn criticism from Blair Henley, who questioned his preparation. Alcaraz may have taken a day off before the tournament begins, leaving his first-round opponent unknown until the draw on 27 August.

Alcaraz Returns to the US Open Carlos

Alcaraz has returned to tennis at the US Open, where he is set to play his first singles match since suffering a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April. The Spaniard began his comeback with a high-profile doubles partnership with Serena Williams in the US Open mixed doubles. Alcaraz and Williams defeated Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe to reach the quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Flavio Cobolli and Belinda Bencic.

The world No 3 has also been hitting the practice courts at Flushing Meadows, alongside the likes of Daniel Merida and Arthur Fils. He is listed as the second seed in the tournament’s standings, placing him on the opposite side of the draw from Alexander Zverev, the number one seed.

Mixed Doubles Success

Alcaraz’s partnership with Williams was a highlight of the early week. The duo’s victory over Glasspool and Routliffe showcased Alcaraz’s ability to adapt to a new partner quickly. Their run ended in the quarter-finals against Cobolli and Bencic, who delivered a strong performance to advance.

Criticism of Practice Routine Speaking on the Kim Clijsters Love

All podcast, Blair Henley questioned Alcaraz’s preparations at the US Open. Henley noted that Alcaraz had started the week playing without a partner, a scenario that is “fairly unusual during this lead up to the US Open week.” He added that most players are fed balls from a basket, while Alcaraz had “some two-on-ones as well with Samu and Alvaro, but for the most part he was getting balls fed to him.”

Henley also highlighted that Alcaraz had been practicing with high-profile hitting partners, but the lack of a consistent partner may raise concerns. He said, “It is fairly unusual during this lead up to the US Open week to see a player out with just a coach.” The criticism is linked with the observation that Alcaraz was set to return to the practice courts on Wednesday, 26 August, a day after his final match with Williams in the doubles.

Open begins. Whether this is precautionary or part of a longer-term plan, it does seem strange that Alcaraz has opted not to hit tennis balls so close to the tournament. He will find his first-round opponent when the draw is made on Thursday, 27 August. For those tracking the upcoming matches, the fixtures page will list his scheduled opponents.

The situation remains under scrutiny as Alcaraz prepares to face the world’s best players. The next step for the Spaniard will be to confirm his readiness for the first round, which will be announced on the day of the draw. The tennis community will be watching closely to see how his preparation strategy unfolds as the tournament approaches.

Source: Tennis365