Tennis News: Carlos Alcaraz's new injury announcement and Maria Sharapova's praise

Carlos Alcaraz is seemingly going to struggle with injuries more than most. Ever since he became immensely important on the ATP tour, and was capable of winning any tournament he entered, he still struggled with injuries much more than form. In 2024, he had to withdraw from several events due to various injuries. His latest is a forearm issue.

Alcaraz was able to reach the quarterfinals at the Madrid Masters even though he was not 100 percent, he says. He woke up the day he played, and lost, to Andrey Rublev and was in great pain. To be fair, he did have a grueling match the day before against Jan-Lennard Struff that went three sets including a tight tie-breaker in the third. Most players might have been tired after such a match.

The forearm is the main problem, though, for the Spaniard. If he cannot hit with the same pace that he normally does, other top players are going to be able to take advantage of his temporary weakness. There is a chance that rest could help the ailment and that appears to be the course of action Alcaraz is going to take.

Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from another event and Maria Sharapova praises Mirra Andreeva

He announced on Friday that he will be withdrawing from the upcoming Italian Open. Alcaraz will not lose too many points from not playing; he only made the third round of the 2023 event in Rome. The hope, of course, is that he will be ready for the French Open in late May but it is extremely doubtful he will be anywhere near 100 percent healthy.

In completely different tennis news, former No. 1 Maria Sharapova recently was asked by the WTA in an Instagram chat about some 2024 predictions. At least, ones for the rest of the year. As far as Sharapova's player to breakthrough, she chose Russian Mirra Andreeva. Andreeva is only 17 years old but over the last two years and has had some solid success against very good players. She also appears to be ready to excel at a high level on clay.

She made the quarterfinals at the Madrid Masters before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. No shame in that, obviously. At the French Open in 2023, Andreeva made the third round at only 16. She could be a very dangerous player at Roland Garros in late May.

Sharapova said of Andreeva, "I want to say Mirra Andreeva will have a phenomenal year. I followed a little bit of her matches in (2023) and I think she has a strong attitude; she has the game to back it up. Genuinely, just like her approach and her sensibility in the game. And I think she has a very bright future ahead of her."

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