Carlos Alcaraz’s injury has, understandably, dominated headlines over the past month.
After all, whilst it was shocking enough to see that he had been forced to miss Roland Garros, few could possibly have predicted that Wimbledon would be the next casualty.
As a two-time champion at both of these Grand Slams, making the decision to miss them must have been torturous for him and his team.
However, it obviously had to be made for the betterment of himself and the protection of his long-term career.
Carlos Moya, speaking to RNE Deportes, has now offered his thoughts.
Carlos Moya reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s injury forcing him out of Wimbledon
Reacting to the news that Alcaraz had withdrawn from Wimbledon two months before the event is due to start, the former world number one admitted: “Well, because if you stop and rest, I think he’s taking the smartest long-term approach.
“It’s difficult as a player to step back and see things from the outside, so to speak. I think he deserves a lot of credit for resting and not pushing himself too hard.
Is it time to start panicking about Carlos Alcaraz?
He’s out of another Grand Slam…
“Besides, these are the worst tournaments I’ve ever seen for his wrist [clay and Roland Garros], so I think he’s made the right decision without even knowing what he’s doing. He and his team will know the data much better, and I think he’s smart.”
What exactly is wrong with Carlos Alcaraz’s wrist?
Whilst plenty has been said about Carlos Alcaraz’s injury, it’s worth pointing out exactly what the Spaniard is suffering with that has caused him to make such a drastic decision to withdraw from Wimbledon.
The issue he is dealing with is called tenosynovitis, which has seen inflammation where fluid builds up in synovium within the tendon sheath.
This manifests as pain and swelling.
When caught early, simple rest can see the issue solved in four to six weeks. In more serious cases, like Alcaraz’s, it can take months.
Can anyone now stop Jannik Sinner from winning Roland Garros after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal?
If yes, who?
It seems like now, for the 23-year-old, it is a waiting game.
If rest does not see the pain abate, more serious measures might be needed, with surgery one option if rest, physical therapy and injections do not help.
However, Alcaraz and his team will see surgery as a worst-case scenario, having already missed enough of this tennis season as it is.