World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the ATP 500 event in Acapulco for the second straight year. Carlos played in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in the previous two weeks, embracing nine matches and winning one title from two finals.
Alcaraz lifted the trophy in Buenos Aires and looked good to repeat that in Rio before falling to Cameron Norrie. The youngster experienced a grade 1 strain in his right hamstring during Rio and had to skip Acapulco and take some rest.
Carlos should be ready for Indian Wells and Miami, defending 1360 points at the season’s opening Masters 1000 events. Alcaraz wrapped up the previous season as the youngest year-end no. 1 player, winning a Major and two Masters 1000 crowns.
However, the young Spaniard missed the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals following an abdominal injury experienced at the Paris Masters. Carlos had been working hard to prepare for the Australian Open before another injury ruined his plans.
Struggling with his right leg, Alcaraz skipped the season’s first Major and returned to action in Buenos Aires. Carlos beat Cameron Norrie to lift the title and fought against the same rival in Sunday’s Rio final. Alcaraz led 7-5, 3-0 before Norrie staged a comeback and earned a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 victory in two hours and 41 minutes.
Alcaraz fired 40 winners and 52 unforced errors, unable to tame his strokes more efficiently. Norrie fired 26 unreturned serves and controlled his strokes nicely to hit the same number of winners and unforced errors and emerge at the top.
The Briton defended four out of nine break points and stole the rival’s serve six times from 16 opportunities. Carlos felt the pain in his right leg again, playing with a bandage and opting for all-or-nothing strokes from the second set.
Carlos Alcaraz deals with a Grade 1 strain in his right leg.
The Briton erased an early deficit in the second set and grabbed six out of seven games to turn the tables and force a decider. Carlos made another push and broke in game two for a 2-0 advantage.
However, he netted a forehand in the next one to experience a break and keep the opponent on the positive side. Norrie broke again in game five to move in front before losing his serve in the next one. Barely moving, Carlos denied two break points in game nine and brought the game home for a massive hold and a 5-4 advantage.
He came back from 40-0 down in game 11 before Norrie grabbed the fourth break point that decided the winner. The Briton served for the victory at 6-5 and fired an ace on his second match point to celebrate the title. “I have a grade 1 strain in my right hamstring that will keep me out for several days, according to the tests we did this morning.
I’m sad because I can not compete here, but now it’s time to think about recovering and being ready as soon as possible. I hope to see you all soon!” Carlos Alcaraz said.
