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The 2024 ATP calendar is about to end with the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin which will see the Top 8 players of the 2024 season fight it among themselves to earn the year-ending honors. Carlos Alcaraz has qualified for the year-ending Championships for a second year in a row but was spotted wearing a nose strip in his training session, raising health concerns.
Before his opening match against Casper Ruud, the World No. 3 was seen wearing a fuchsia-colored nasal strip as a precautionary measure. It has been reported that the Spaniard has a blocked nose, causing problems with his respiratory functions.
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Nasal strips are used to clear the breathing of the person wearing them, and it is expected to help alleviate Alcaraz's symptoms. His physiotherapist, Juanjo Moreno suggested the strips, which were seen on the Spaniard's nose during his training session with Taylor Fritz. Although the Spaniard did not look completely fluent in his game during the practice session, he did remove the strip after an hour of play.
There is a successful precedent of the usage of nasal strips on the ATP circuit. Nicolas Jarry from Chile was seen sporting nasal strips earlier this season, and they proved beneficial. It remains to be seen whether it is useful for Alcaraz.
Alcaraz will look to end the season on a high at the ATP Finals
Despite completing the Channel Slam at such a young age, 2024 remains a season of untapped potential for Carlos Alcaraz. Even though he has a 3-0 record against his nearest competitor and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the Spaniard entered the event in Turin after already 11 losses in the season, whereas in the entire 2023 season, he only had 12 losses.
Some of the defeats have been unexpected for a player of Alcaraz's caliber and charisma. His loss to Botic Van de Zandschulp at the US Open second round is arguably one of the major upsets of the year. The former World No. 1 also suffered uncharacteristic defeats to Gael Monfils in Cincinnati, Tomas Machac in Shanghai, and against Ugo Humbert in the recently concluded Paris Masters.
After his loss against Humbert in Bercy, the Spaniard was vocal about the playing conditions, stating that the court's speeds were exceptionally fast, which hampered his preparations for the tournament. Even in his short career which has seen the 21-year-old break numerous records, indoor hard courts are a surface that he has yet to crack.
