Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked world number three, may struggle to perform at his peak in Wednesday’s ATP Finals match against Andrey Rublev as he battles illness, according to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. The 21-year-old Spaniard, a four-time Grand Slam champion, experienced breathing difficulties during his Monday match, where he fell to Norway’s Casper Ruud with a 6-1, 7-5 loss.
Ferrero revealed Alcaraz’s struggles, stating
As soon as he moves a little, it’s hard for him to breathe. His chest is a bit tight.
Despite these challenges, Ferrero hopes Alcaraz can push through, although he cautioned that facing Rublev, a high-mobility player, could be particularly demanding.
While Alcaraz canceled a public practice session on Tuesday to recover, Ferrero remains optimistic about his resilience, though admits, “It’s going to be difficult for him to be 100%.”
