What Forced Carlos Alcaraz to Don a Pink Strip Amid Rising Doubts Over ATP Finals Participation

This isn't exactly the situation Carlos Alcaraz would have hoped for. The young Spanish sensation has dazzled all season, racking up four titles, two of them Grand Slams, and even clinching a silver at the Paris Olympics. But now, as he sets his sights on yet another prestigious crown at the ATP Finals, Alcaraz finds himself up against a tougher opponent than he expected—his own health.

The 21-year-old started his campaign in Turin on Monday. After facing a setback against Casper Ruud, he emerged victorious in his second match against Alexander Rublev by winning in straight sets. However, he is struggling with nasal congestion and cold, which is posing some serious challenges for the star player. But what is Alcaraz doing to overcome the woes posed by the latest health issues and what is the pink strip that he is wearing over his nose?

Alcaraz was seen wearing a pink strip during his match against Alexander Rublev. These adhesive strips are called nasal strips which are used to treat blocked noses and increase the airflow by widening the nostrils. It improves breathing by decreasing air resistance in the nasal passages. Remember, the star player was also seen wearing a similar strip for about an hour during his practice sessions ahead of his first match. For the unversed, the situation of the Spaniard has continued to remain worrisome despite receiving treatment and medication.

Speaking about his health earlier to the Press, his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero said, "As soon as he moves a bit, he finds it hard to breathe. He has tightness in his chest. A bad time to fall ill." He also highlighted that these problems are proving to be major roadblocks for the 21-year-old in Turin. Interestingly, this is not the first time when the star player has found himself in such a situation as this in the ATP Finals.

The Spanish star faced a muscle tear right before the ATP finals in 2022 and failed to appear for the event. Last year too, he fell short of victory after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. And this year, he seems to be struggling with a blocked nose. To make matters worse, he has also been suffering from stomach problems as a side effect of the medication he has been taking, per reports. Meanwhile, Alcaraz's challenges did not just bother him in his first match at the venue but his opponent Casper Ruud as well.

Casper Ruud reveals how Carlos Alcaraz's health crises posed a challenge for him as well Carlos Alcaraz depicted impeccable resilience by playing in the first match despite facing health concerns. However, the task was not going to be easy for him as was evidenced by the result as well with the Spaniard losing in straight sets 6-1, 7-5. But his challenges also made it difficult for his opponent Casper Ruud to play against him.

Speaking after baffling the Spaniard, Ruud revealed his challenges facing a sick Alcaraz. "I knew he was maybe dealing with a bit of a cold. I've seen him snuffling around in the area here and always with a tissue for his nose. Of course, that's sad, that's not good for him, but it's also part of the game and I knew it coming in," he said, adding that the struggles of Alcaraz created some doubtful situations for him as well. "I tried to make him play rallies and do my best but it's not easy because, when you know someone is not 100%, maybe you get stressed yourself, thinking this is a really big chance for me to maybe win."

For now, it would be crucial to see if Carlos Alcaraz continues to struggle with the health issues in his next match as well and whether he will continue wearing the pink nasal strip.