Spaniard will need to be on top form in Sunday’s final in Paris to join ranks of three-time grand-slam winners
Even for the most precocious and gifted tennis players, great careers do not develop without suffering. Carlos Alcaraz burst on to the ATP tour breaking age records at will, winning his first major title at the US Open and then following it up with his spectacular triumph at Wimbledon last year. Yet the 11 months since that last victory have presented many challenges.
As his body has tried to catch up with his immense intensity and athleticism, Alcaraz has been sidelined by numerous injuries, including a sprained ankle that occurred one game into his match at the Rio Open this year and a right forearm injury that has ravaged his clay season, forcing him to withdraw from tournaments in Monte Carlo, Rome and Barcelona. He arrived at the French Open having played only four matches in the clay season.