Carlos Alcaraz fitness update: After ATP Finals opener loss, Spaniard reveals why he felt 'uncomfortable' and couldn't play at his best

Carlos Alcaraz appeared to be in discomfort during his loss to Casper Ruud in the 2024 ATP Finals. The Spaniard later revealed that he was feeling "uncomfortable in the stomach" and had fallen sick before traveling to Turin, Italy.

Alcaraz faced Ruud in the John Newcombe group opener at the 2024 ATP Finals on Monday (Nov. 11). The World No. 3 played a forgettable opening set as he managed to win only one game.

In the second set, Alcaraz looked to rally back and force a decider leading 5-2 but his Norwegian opponent had other plans. Ruud won five games in a row for a second time in the match to claim a 6-1, 7-5 win. This was Ruud's first win against the Spaniard.

However, during the match, the 21-year-old was seemingly in discomfort, clutching his stomach and blowing his nose. He was spotted in training earlier wearing a nose strip to aid his breathing and during the post-match press conference, Alcaraz confirmed that he has been sick for the past few days.

"Well, a few days before coming here, I got sick at home. And yeah, the days that I was practicing here, I was feeling okay. Not pretty good, but okay. I could play. I could feel that I can get into the rallies in the practice. Obviously, in the matches is totally different," Carlos Alcaraz said.

He added that, on Monday morning, he started feeling discomfort in his stomach, however, he did not want to use his illness as an "excuse."

"But today I didn't feel well. In this morning, I feel uncomfortable in the stomach. After long rallies today, I couldn't feel well... I don't want to, you know, say because I don't want to sound like an excuse. But if I feel bad, I feel bad. It is what happened today," he added.

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"I'm tired mentally" - Carlos Alcaraz opens up about "demanding year" on the ATP Tour

Carlos Alcaraz at the Nitto ATP Finals 2024 (Image: Getty)

During the same post-match press conference, Carlos Alcaraz opened up about being tired mentally after a long season on the ATP Tour. The Spaniard shared that every player is feeling mentally drained at this point in the season, explaining that the intensity of the tour takes a toll, adding:

"Some players deal with it better than others. I'm tired. I'm tired mentally. Obviously a lot of matches, really tight schedule, really demanding year with not too many days off, not too many period of you could rest, you could practice at home."

Despite feeling better prepared this year than last, Alcaraz, who has talked about the "tight" schedule several times in the past few months, acknowledged that the mental fatigue has accumulated over time.