Alcaraz aims to make up lost injury time in South America

Carlos Alcaraz will try and put three months of lost time into the rear view mirror as the second-ranked Spaniard heads to South America this week to try and earn his first ranking points of the year.

The one-time No. 1 was unable to travel to Australia for January’s summer of tennis and was knocked from the No. 1 ranking by 10-time Melbourne winner Novak Djokovic.

Now, it’s up to the 19-year-old Alcaraz to try and finally make an impression.

He has been out since early November with torn abdominal muscle and a right leg complaint.

He will put his rehab to the test at the Argentine Open, where home hero Diego Schwartzman is hoping to excel; Europeans making the clay swing south include Brit Cam Norrie and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.

Alcaraz will also defend his title this month in Rio before heading north to Mexico and Acapulco followed by the American Masters 1000 pair of Indian Wells and Miami.

Spain has the momentum going in Buenos Aires, with Iberians claiming nine trophies since 2001 through six different players.