Carlos Alcaraz has reassured supporters that he will walk onto Court Philippe Chatrier on twenty five May to defend the Coupe des Mousquetaires despite the hamstring and groin strains that forced him to skip the Madrid Open.
Medical scans in Barcelona revealed no structural tear, yet the world number three experienced lingering soreness that limited full sprint sessions. His team therefore chose rest and targeted strengthening rather than risking another match inside the Caja Magica.
Alcaraz completed his first hour of sliding drills on red clay at the Juan Carlos Ferrero academy on Monday and reported only minor stiffness afterward. Coaches were encouraged by explosive split steps and heavy topspin forehands during live rallies.
Physio Juanjo Moreno explained that the current plan involves daily stability work and controlled court repetitions capped at ninety minutes, building toward full three set practice matches in Rome next week if recovery trends upward.
The champion acknowledged the psychological challenge of entering a Grand Slam without ideal preparation but insisted that last season’s United States Open victory taught him to manage expectation and trust his creativity under pressure.
Tournament organisers welcomed the confirmation, noting that ticket demand for the second Monday traditionally spikes when the defending champion features in prime time. Alcaraz closed with a promise to arrive in Paris feeling liberated, not limited.
