After nearly a month off court with injury, Carlos Alcaraz is agonising over his chances of making a comeback start when Roland Garros begins on Sunday.
The Spaniard who hit ATP No. 1 for a period before injuries sent his career into a tailspin, is fearful of his form heading into the clay-court major.
The 21-year-old has not hit a ball in anger since losing in his home Madrid quarter-finals to Andrey Rublev on May 1.
Since then, the former US Open winner has only been able to watch as his rankings falls to third in the world.
Alcaraz had a Paris semi-final a year ago but heads into the upcoming edition with serious fitness doubts which are preying on his mind concerning a forearm injury.
.He told MARCA: “I’m still a little afraid (to hit a forehand), it will take a while to go away,” he said.
“It’s making me think about things. Every time I hit 100 per cent in training or matches I have that buzz (of fear) in my head.”Â
Alcaraz and his team are most concerned about his forehand, one of his major weapons.