World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is eager to take part in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh, but the Spaniard insists he won’t step on court without a bandage. Alcaraz had sprained his ankle during his first-round clash at the Japan Open, and though he battled through the injury to claim the title, he chose to rest afterward, sitting out the recently concluded Shanghai Masters.
What Update Has Carlos Alcaraz Provided Regarding His Ankle Injury?
Alcaraz’s coach, Samuel López, had earlier provided an update on the injury, revealing that the decision to play at the ATP 500 event in Tokyo despite the injury was made jointly by Alcaraz, his fitness coach Juanjo Moreno, and physiotherapist Fran Rubio.
Nonetheless, the six-time Major champion stayed gritty despite the injury, and continued practicing, as frequent updates of him hitting the court surfaced online. However, it is also worth noting that his left leg remained strapped, raising doubts about when he might return to action.
But according to the Spaniard’s latest update, his ankle is recovering well from a grade-two sprain. While doubt may linger, he looks forward to competing as he believes his ankle is holding up.
“The ankle has been doing well, recovering well within reason. It was a grade two sprain, and without much rest it always takes a little longer to recover. I may still be playing, not with discomfort, but with a bit of doubt. Those doubts always take time to go away, but the truth is we’re doing a good job. My ankle is holding up,” he said in a conversation with Marca recently.Â
The Six Kings Slam promises stiff competition for Alcaraz, fresh off his ankle recovery. Thanks to his Grand Slam success, the Spaniard received direct entry into the semifinals, where he will face American ace Taylor Fritz, who secured a convincing 59-minute triumph over World No. 3 Alexander Zverev.
Later in the interview, Alcaraz confirmed he would compete in the event with his feet strapped, saying he wouldn’t feel fully confident otherwise.
“Yes, I’ll play with a bandage. I just don’t feel completely confident playing demanding matches without a bandage,” he said.
The 2025 season has been remarkable for the 22-year-old, who has claimed eight titles, including two Grand Slams. His dominance is further reflected in an outstanding 67–7 win-loss record.
