“It’s difficult to wake up in the mornings.” Carlos Alcaraz has been facing a challenge away from the tennis court during the ongoing US Open. And while notched another strong win to reach the R16 with a straight-set win over Italy’s Luciano Darderi, things got a bit tense when he had to call for a medical timeout during the second set because of an injury scare.

The Spaniard was up 5-4 but looked pretty uneasy after having lost his serve for the first time this tournament. The world No. 2 had to take a break to receive quick treatment for his right knee and quadriceps muscle, which had fans and commentators on the edge. Thankfully, it did not affect Alcaraz’s game as he cruised through a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 win against Darderi. And while many were concerned about the discomfort in his knee during the match, the 5x Grand Slam champ was quick to brush off the incident as he was “not worried about it”.

In his post-match interview, he said, “I’m feeling good. Just a precaution that I asked for the physio when he broke my serve in the last point. I felt something that wasn’t working good in the knee. After 5 or 6 points, it was gone. I asked for the physio just to take care about the knee because it was 1 set left, I had to be ready and feeling good physically. Precaution. I’m gonna talk with my team, but I’m not worried about it.”

Even though his reassurances might ease some worries for now, this situation brings up bigger questions about the strain his intense season is putting on him and how his body might handle the demands of top-level competition.

Alcaraz has dealt with injury issues before in 2025. Earlier this year, he had to pull out of the Madrid Open because of an adductor problem, which came after he dealt with a right leg issue in the Barcelona Open final. These issues show how he has to juggle peak performance with taking care of his body, especially while chasing that World No.1 ranking.

The Spaniard has had an impressive year with 57 wins and six titles under his belt. And no, he is not just after another grand slam title; the 22-year-old is also on track to dethrone Jannik Sinner from the world No. 1 title. A lingering injury could throw a wrench in those plans, making his physical state a key part of the US Open story. Alcaraz’s recent experience at Flushing Meadows definitely brings more depth to these worries. He still vividly remembers his surprising second-round exit in the 2024 US Open, and he confessed that it’s stuck with him more than his big win in 2022.

The mental strain, along with the physical challenges of the tournament, highlights the huge pressure on the young star. He’s got a knack for handling both mental and physical hurdles, which will be key as he heads into a fourth-round match against Arthur Rinderknech, someone he’s beaten every time they’ve faced off—3-0 record! As he moves further into the tournament, everyone in the tennis world will be keeping a close eye to see if this precautionary timeout turns out to be just a minor detail or if it becomes a major issue for his 2025 campaign.

Right now, Alcaraz is all about winning. He has yet to drop a set in his US Open campaign, and if he remains 100% fit, a 6th major title can not be ruled out.