Rafael Nadal optimistic about Carlos Alcaraz's wrist injury: "He will recover 100 percent"

World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz is set to miss two Grand Slams in a row due to a wrist injury, and while fans are concerned, fellow Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal is certain his Paris 2024 Olympic doubles partner will come back even stronger than before.

“For Carlos, he’s feeling that he lost two Grand Slams, a couple of Masters 1000s, it’s a tough moment,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast. “But in some way, the good thing is he has an injury that he will recover 100 per cent if he does the proper things, and I’m sure he is doing the proper things.”

Alcaraz announced on Instagram on Wednesday that he would not take part in grass-court tournaments at Queen's and Wimbledon this season, noting that he is recovering but is still not fully fit to compete.

Speaking to Andy Roddick, Nadal said it was a smart decision to sit out the upcoming tournaments.

“He has plenty of years in front of him," he said. "And it’s about listening to that from somebody like me that went through all of these things, I think, that gives you some positiveness in the tough moments.”

Nadal experienced the same injury twice in his career, in 2014 and 2016. He withdrew from three Grand Slams to focus on his recovery, including the 2016 Roland Garros and came back a year later to win his 15th Grand Slam title on the same courts.

The double Olympic champion won another seven majors after that and ultimately retired in 2024, 10 years after first having the wrist injury.

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