Alcaraz: “Non riesco nemmeno a camminare

Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Turin on Wednesday to begin preparations for the ATP Finals at the Inalpi Arena, where he joked about his physical condition and addressed his knee issues.

Alcaraz addresses new knee discomfort

Speaking to Eurosport during the tournament’s Media Day, Alcaraz addressed reporters regarding the physical toll of his recent schedule. The Spaniard wore a kinesiotape bandage on his knee during his first practice session on the court, following a new physical problem that emerged during the final of the Paris Masters 1000 against Ben Shelton.

This detail sparked alarm in Spain regarding his fitness, raising concerns also for the Davis Cup Final 8 scheduled for late November in Bologna, though the issue appears to be merely a discomfort as he completed his two-hour training session with Brazilian player Guto Miguel without hindrance.

““Non riesco nemmeno a camminare! (ride, ndr). Ho giocato tante partite in pochi giorni, affrontando incontri particolarmente impegnativi dal punto di vista fisico”,” said Carlos Alcaraz to Eurosport.

Alcaraz added that minor issues are normal for a professional tennis player at this stage of the calendar. He said that he is currently taking care of his body strictly as a precautionary measure.

Chasing an elusive Turin title

The 2026 edition runs from November 15 to November 22, 2026, with matches hosted in northern Italy.

The year-end tournament remains one of the few major gaps in the Spanish player’s career record, marking his fifth qualification for the season-ending event after triumphs at the Vienna ATP 500 and the Paris Masters 1000, which served as his first big title won on indoor hard courts following a recovery from a right wrist injury that sidelined him for over four months.

Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, identified Alcaraz as the clear tournament favorite. The path has cleared somewhat due to the absence of defending champion Jannik Sinner, who withdrew from the event due to a knee injury.

Alexander Zverev, the new world number one, US Open champion, and previous Finals winner in 2018 and 2021, stands as his most formidable rival for the trophy, although Zverev appeared somewhat tired after a relentless season.

““Ovviamente è un grande obiettivo. Non solo perché si tratta di un torneo molto importante, ma anche perché rappresenta uno degli appuntamenti più attesi della stagione”,” Alcaraz told Eurosport.

The reunion with Juan Carlos Ferrero

Another major storyline in Turin involves the expected presence of Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ferrero received an invitation to the event as a member of the Number 1 Club, the group uniting players who reached the peak of the ATP rankings.

Alcaraz and Ferrero are expected to face each other at a tournament for the first time since their professional partnership ended in December 2025, following a seven-year association during which Alcaraz captured twenty-four titles on the major circuit and became the youngest number one in history after Ferrero began coaching him at age fourteen.

““Non voglio mentire, sarà un po’ strano. È da tantissimo tempo che non lo vedo. Sono comunque felice e non vedo l’ora di incontrarlo e parlare con lui”,” said Alcaraz to Eurosport.

Alcaraz is currently coached by Samuel López.

Formula One interest and Sinner absence

During his media commitments, Alcaraz also touched on sports outside of tennis, mentioning his recent interest in motorsport. He told Eurosport that he has been following Formula One and described the performances of Kimi Antonelli as incredible.

““Mi manca vedere Sinner negli spogliatoi.” “Il circuito ha bisogno di lui”,” Alcaraz told Eurosport.

Next steps in Piedmont

Alcaraz completed a two-hour training session with Brazilian player Guto Miguel. His practice schedule in Turin includes upcoming sessions with Flavio Cobolli, Ben Shelton, and Rafael Jodar ahead of the tournament’s opening matches.

More on Alcaraz: Carlos Alcaraz Injury Concerns at ATP Finals: Training Aborted Amid Abdominal Pain and Knee Bandage · Carlos Alcaraz Joins Nadal and Djokovic With Masters 1000 Titles in 5 Consecutive Years · Carlos Alcaraz Wins Two Titles in Seven Days and Reaches 28 ATP Titles