In early 2024, Carlos Alcaraz faced a tough start. An ankle injury forced his retirement from the Rio Open. Soon after, a stubborn right arm injury made him withdraw from Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome, disrupting his French Open prep. He admitted he’s “not used to dealing with so many injuries.” Still, Alcaraz bounced back, winning his first Roland Garros title in June. He carried that momentum into 2025, lifting maiden trophies in Rotterdam and the Monte Carlo Masters. His journey shows that, for all his brilliance, Alcaraz is human—navigating the limits of physical endurance. And Rennae Stubbs is all for it!
On Sunday, April 20, Carlos Alcaraz entered the Barcelona Open final riding a nine-match winning streak following his Monte Carlo Masters triumph. He had convincingly defeated Ethan Quinn, Laslo Djere, and Alex de Minaur, then fought hard to overcome Arthur Fils in the semifinals, setting up a fourth meeting with Holger Rune—one he had won twice before. However, it wasn’t his day. Early in the second set, a psoas injury forced a medical timeout.
Though Alcaraz returned to the court, his movement was clearly affected, and his hopes of claiming a third Barcelona title slipped away as Rune seized control. The Dane raced to a 7-6, 6-2 win and his first title since 2023. On her podcast, Rennae Stubbs felt for Carlos. “What he display today, particularly in the first look second set, there’s no question in my mind that Alcaraz was absolutely hampered with that right quad, sorry groin area, hip flexer,” she said.
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates winning the first set during his Quarter-final match against Djokovic in the Rod Laver Arena Australian Open, Day Ten, Tennis, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – 21 Jan 2025 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xRachelxBach/Shutterstockx 15108797ff
The 21-year-old Spaniard, unbeaten in 14 Barcelona matches and a two-time champ, looked strong early. He broke Rune to lead 3-2. Rune fought back, leveling the set and edging a tense tiebreak 7-6(6). Rennae believes the injury was no joke, despite how strong Alcaraz looked. “You could tell, particularly on his serve that he was struggling with and look, Alcaraz is not a bulls******.” And it’s true.
According to Tennis Gazette, Alcaraz had an MRI scan on Monday. The results aren’t out yet, but the World No. 2 does not think it will impact his Madrid Open performance. Maybe it won’t. Even with a weakened serve—0 aces, 1 double fault—Alcaraz landed 70% of first serves, winning 65% of those points. His second serve win rate was 53%. As Rennae Stubbs phrased, “He’s not gonna be like, ‘oh, my leg hurts because I lost the first out.’ He’s the type of guy that would love the challenge of playing in Barcelona winning a match in three sets.”
On the other hand, Stubbs praised Rune’s discipline to seal victory against one of the world’s best in front of home fans. She noted, “Holger Rune was way more disciplined, particularly in the tiebreak. I mean, Alcaraz has tried to hit that back end drop shot like at three to two up on the mini break, and it was a terrible shot.” Rune’s first serve percentage was a strong 72%, with a 69% win rate. He won 58% of his second serve points.
Now the Madrid Open starts on April 25. Carlos has a chance to show how he’ll bounce back from this setback. Will he come back stronger? Only time will tell. For now, he’s reflected well on his Barcelona performance while receiving some uplifting words from his idol!
Carlos on his injury and Rafael’s message to him following tough loss
The Spaniard, who had just won the Monte Carlo Masters the week before, struggled physically, especially in the second set when he called for a medical timeout due to a right leg issue. “That’s what happens when you play so many matches and have so few days to rest. It’s so demanding, and you have to give 100 per cent every day,” he said via the ATP tour website. “Having played Monte Carlo and arriving in Barcelona with few days to adapt is really tough. Now I bow at the feet of Rafa [Nadal] because of what he did week after week. You have to respect that.”
Alcaraz praised Rafael Nadal, who won 14 French Open titles despite battling chronic knee pain and Mueller-Weiss syndrome, a rare foot disease. Nadal even played the 2022 French Open using pain-killing injections and considered nerve-targeting procedures to manage the pain. “We admire Rafa for what he’s done, particularly on this swing. But winning everything consecutively is kind of impossible. Once you’ve experienced it firsthand, you appreciate what Rafa did much more and how difficult it is to be 100 per cent physically and mentally week after week.”
Before turning 22, Alcaraz is expected to bounce back stronger, with fans and Nadal himself rooting for him. “He wrote to me,” Alcaraz revealed. “To give me some encouragement, telling me he hopes that I’m not injured and that in a few days I can train again and give my all.”
The upcoming Madrid Open could see a thrilling rematch with Novak Djokovic, who beat Alcaraz at the Australian Open despite his own injury. Will Carlos overcome his leg issue to chase a third Madrid title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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