Tennis players fear wrist injuries more than any other. Carlos Alcaraz is no exception

Key Points:

• Wrist injuries are among the most debilitating for tennis players, especially when affecting the playing hand, as the wrist is crucial for generating power and spin in shots and is difficult to treat and prevent due to its complex structure and lack of surrounding muscle.
• Carlos Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, has been sidelined by a wrist injury since April, forcing him to miss the clay-court season and Wimbledon, highlighting the ongoing risk wrist injuries pose even to elite players.
• The sport's increasing emphasis on speed and spin, combined with less lively balls, has led players to swing harder, contributing to a rise in upper extremity injuries, including wrists, elbows, and shoulders, despite a slight decline in wrist and hand injuries specifically.
• Recovery from wrist injuries often involves immobilization and careful management, but the psychological impact and fear of re-injury can hinder players' return to peak performance, as seen in cases like Sebastian Korda and Karolína Muchová who had to relearn aspects of their game post-injury.
• While some players like Andre Agassi and Kim Clijsters have successfully returned from wrist surgeries to win majors, others like Dominic Thiem and Juan Martín del Potro saw promising careers curtailed by wrist issues, underscoring the potentially career-altering nature of these injuries.