Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Carlos Alcaraz said he will be "at 100 percent" for the US Open despite stopping his training in New York as a precaution after twisting his ankle.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz has dealt with a number of injuries in recent times, including an ankle injury that forced him to withdraw in the first round of the Rio Open earlier this year.
Alcaraz's injury worries returned on Saturday (local time), leading him to suspend his training session with Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo. However, the Spaniard said he never feared for his participation in tournament.
"I just stopped my practice for precaution. I didn't feel comfortable enough to keep practising just in case if everything is going to be worse," Alcaraz told a news conference.
"A few hours later, I feel good, tomorrow I will try to be practising again without thinking about it.
"I wasn't worried at all for my US Open participation. Obviously I was angry because I don't want to stop the practice, to respect Cerundolo, as well.
"Tomorrow or in two days I'm going to be my at 100 percent, for sure. It's about time."
The 21-year-old begins his tournament at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday against Australian Li Tu as he chases a second U.S. Open title after winning in 2022.
Alcaraz said he hoped to approach important matches with a better mentality following his disappointment at losing to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Olympics earlier this month.
"It was a difficult moment for me, losing the gold medal in a really close match that I had opportunities," he said.
"But in front of me I had a really good player and he deserved it. So days after the Olympics I realize that I won the silver medal, a great achievement that I have to be proud of.
"I try to keep going and learn about this. The next important matches of my career I will deal in a different way or a better way than I did in Olympics."
Alcaraz, who last week lost to Gael Monfils in the Cincinnati Open Round of 32, said he is not worried about having played few hard-court matches ahead of the year's final Grand Slam.
"Heading into Roland Garros, I hadn't played too many matches on clay, and it was a pretty good result. In Wimbledon, same thing," added the Spaniard who has won the last two majors.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning the gold medal, Mens Singles final match at Roland Garros, Paris. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Djokovic as ambitious as ever after completing Golden Slam
Meanwhile Novak Djokovic said he remains eager to continue making history as he begins his US Open title defence only three weeks after winning a coveted gold medal at the Paris Games to cement his status as the greatest tennis player in history.
Djokovic aims to win a record 25th Grand Slam and become the first U.S. Open champion to successfully defend his title since Swiss great Roger Federer in 2008.
The 37-year-old said he was looking forward to playing his first match of the tournament on Monday against Radu Albot under the lights of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"The goal is always for me to try to go all the way to the finals and fight for the trophy. That kind of mindset is no different for me this year," Djokovic told a news conference on Saturday.
"People ask me 'now that you have won everything with the golden medal, what else is there to win?' I still feel the drive. I still have the competitive spirit. I still want to make more history and enjoy myself on the tour.
"The US Open holds the biggest tennis court in the world. Night sessions here are very famous. I'm going to play my first match on Monday night, I can't wait to be under the lights. The noise, the energy of the stadium is just different. I look forward to it."
Other than his Paris Games triumph, Djokovic has claimed no other titles in 2024, losing to younger players such as Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals and Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
The last time Djokovic played all four majors in a season without winning one was 14 years ago. Yet the Serb looked like he was in fine form at the Olympics, beating French Open champion Alcaraz in the final.
Djokovic claims to be motivated to keep pushing himself forward through his rivalries with younger players.
"These kind of rivalries that I have with Jannik and Carlos are the kind of matchups that still bring that joy of competition to me and inspire me to really push myself to perfect the game," he added.
-Reuters