Alcaraz emerged victorious in his final match against a qualifier during the first round of the Barcelona Open, though he was clearly struggling physically and pulled out of the tournament prior to his subsequent match.
Images and video clips posted on his social media platforms depict him practicing in Murcia on Tuesday, displaying the longer hairstyle he has let grow during his time away from the court.
Nevertheless, a return to professional competition is still at least several weeks away, which implies that even under the best-case scenario, he will be heading into the US Open with nearly five months of inactivity to shake off, should he participate.
However, when dealing with wrist issues in tennis, taking additional time before returning can be crucial in avoiding a relapse of the injury.
“The most significant predictor of a new injury is a past one—once you suffer an injury, your vulnerability to experiencing it again increases,” Ross explains.
“Should an athlete manage to transition back over the course of several months without facing a relapse, they are typically out of the woods.
“On the other hand, certain conditions can turn into long-term issues, and the intense demands of the professional circuit to return quickly, secure prize money, and defend ranking points pose a substantial hazard.”
A major obstacle associated with wrist trauma is mental; once an athlete experiences severe pain in a joint that plays such a pivotal role in their shot-making, regaining complete confidence in its stability can be extremely difficult.
“Wrist issues are complicated,” remarked Sir Andy Murray, who dealt with injuries to both of his wrists during the early stages of his twenties.
“When faced with a low ball, you are forced to rely heavily on your wrist to lift and dip the shot, and when dealing with a high, rapid ball, you must utilize the wrist extensively to keep the shot within the lines.
“It is highly challenging to make a comeback [from a wrist injury], because the memory of the agony you experienced when first hurting it is mentally incredibly hard to overcome.”
