“Disappointed” to miss Davis Cup, Carlos Alcaraz focuses on recovery for December events

Carlos Alcaraz spoke to the media for the first time since announcing his withdrawal from the 2025 Davis Cup Finals on Tuesday, opening up on a virtual press conference about the hamstring injury that will require two weeks of recovery.

“I was really looking forward to playing for Spain,” said Alcaraz, who clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 last week at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. “But the season has been really long, with highs and lows. Right now, I’m just getting treatment to be good as soon as I can. I’m feeling a bit of pain in the hamstring. I’m a bit sad, but at the same time, the season is over.”

Alcaraz finished runner-up to rival Jannik Sinner in Turin, but nonetheless finished atop the ATP rankings thanks to two more major victories at Roland Garros and the US Open, and plans to be back on court in time to compete at “A Racquet at the Rock” and the “Miami Invitational” on December 7 and December 8, respectively.

The Spaniard will first face Frances Tiafoe at the Prudential Center before taking on Brazilian youngster Joao Fonseca at the LoanDepot Park in Miami, home to the Miami Marlins baseball team.

“I love playing in different stadiums and different places,” said Alcaraz. “I’m not going to feel like a tennis player because the stadium [in Newark] is used for different sports, which is great. I just hope to feel a different energy that I’m not used to feeling at the same tournaments or the same places I play on tour. I don’t take too much time to get used to it. I just feel natural stepping on the court. I think it’s going to be great for me to experience something different.”

Now a six-time Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz is no stranger to trying new things, starting with his frequently changing hair styles. After debuting a shaved look at the US Open, the 22-year-old promised an even bigger “surprise” in the form of a bleach-blonde look he first debuted weeks later at Laver Cup.

“I think it was a good impact for the players,” smiled Alcaraz. “I was asking around to the players, ‘What do you think of my blonde hair?’ They thought doesn’t look that bad, to be honest! So, it was a good impact. This is the time to do something different. I’m not going to do these kinds of experiments with my hair when I’m 30 or 35. Now is the right time to do something else!”

With his hair style sorted for the time being, the world No. 1 will focus all his energy on healing the hamstring injury that precluded his participation in Bologna, where Spain will field a team consisting of Jaume Munar, Pablo Carreño Busta, Pedro Martinez, and Marcel Granollers.

“I’m not worried at all,” Alcaraz said of his longterm health. “I really wanted to play Davis Cup but my body didn’t feel good at all to compete there. I have one more week just to recover and be good, and I’ll have two more weeks before playing there.

“This week, I’m going to get treatment every day, do my exercises to recover. We’ll do some specific exercises and treatments for the next two weeks because I’m going to do whatever it takes just to be ready. I’m going to be really serious and focused on the recovery. Hopefully, I’ll be good as soon as I can!”