Carlos Alcaraz focuses on wrist recovery after Italian doctor’s depression comments

Carlos Alcaraz has responded to claims about his mental health by returning to training as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury and weighs whether he will compete at the US Open.

The 23-year-old Spaniard has not issued a verbal or written response to Gianni Danieli, the Italian Tennis Federation’s chief medical officer, who questioned the nature of Alcaraz’s injury and suggested the player was suffering from depression.

Instead, Alcaraz has chosen to concentrate on preparing for his return to competitive tennis once he has recovered from what has been described as a minor wrist problem.

Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati tournament and has yet to make a final decision on whether he is fit to travel to New York for the US Open. A video posted on Tuesday showed him working on court with Carles Hernandez, his training partner, at Real Sociedad de Campo in El Palmar.

Antonio Hernandez, the club’s communications director, shared the footage and added the caption: “Depression? … Nonsense.”

The video showed Alcaraz taking part in a training session as he continues his rehabilitation. However, no official medical report has been released outlining the precise nature of the injury or providing further details about his condition.

It is understood that a tendon in his wrist had become inflamed and that cartilage had been damaged, although neither Alcaraz nor his team has issued a formal statement confirming those details.

The comments by Danieli have generated significant controversy. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Italian doctor had previously made inappropriate remarks about Alcaraz on other occasions. This time, he went further by questioning why the player had suffered the wrist injury and offering an explanation for it without providing evidence.

Alcaraz has not engaged publicly with those claims. The Spaniard is understood to regard the speculation as beneath a direct response, while the circumstances were also considered unsuitable for him to address the matter publicly.

His immediate priority remains establishing whether he is physically ready to return to the tour. The US Open is the next major tournament on the calendar, but Alcaraz will decide whether to participate only after assessing his recovery and fitness.

The training footage provides an indication that he is working towards a comeback, although it does not confirm that he will be able to compete in New York. The final decision will be made by Alcaraz, who has won seven Grand Slam titles, once he is satisfied that his wrist has recovered sufficiently.

His absence from Cincinnati means his competitive return remains uncertain, with the US Open decision still to come. For now, his work on court represents his response to the allegations surrounding his injury and mental state.