The 2023 season has seen players struggle with consistency on tour. The hectic schedule of the tour makes it hard for players to recover, which affects their form. Carlos Alcaraz played 77 matches this season and, as a result, struggled to play well in the last few months of the tour. Alcaraz still managed to play a stellar season, but it was not the same for fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
Nadal only played four matches this year due to injuries. It has been happening to players from Spain, a trend noticed by Nikolay Daydenko. He said, “For me, Alcaraz is a very strange player. Why is this happening, because in the Spanish tennis school, there is a very significant physical load,” via Championat. The former world No. 3 said that the focus is more on supernatural fitness than tennis.
Daydenko stressed that Alcaraz is too young to be held up by injuries. The young Spaniard has an aggressive style of play on the court. His athleticism is one of the best, but it has taken a toll on his body. Daydenko also spoke about how physical overload can initiate a chain of injuries. It can have a negative impact on the player’s career and end up harming their health.
Carlos Alcaraz is at risk of getting severe injury like Rafael Nadal
The tennis tour is known for being busy for 11 months in a season. Players take a rest for a few weeks before starting for the next season. Senior players like Novak Djokovic have taken a grand slam approach by playing the big events and taking adequate rest in a season. Younger players find it hard to skip events as they need the rankings and exposure.
Alcaraz suffered an abdominal tear at the end of last season. He then injured his right leg at the start of this season. The world No. 2 had discomfort in his spine and injured his left hand at Monte Carlo. Injuries suffered during the early stages of a player’s career can affect them when they turn older. Former WTA player Andrea Petkovic said these injuries tend to bother players throughout their careers.
Petkovic feels that Nadal, too, suffered injuries during his teenage years, and now Alcaraz must be careful. The playing style and the scheduling of events should be assessed for the 20-year-old. Alcaraz will hope to be more consistent in the 2024 season while taking care of his physical health. Nadal is set to return to touring and will try to end his career on a cheerful note.