Carlos Alcaraz advised against rushing fitness recovery ahead of French Open title defence: 'Health is your wealth'

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz has been advised to exercise caution in bid to get match fit in time for his title defence at next month's French Open. The Spaniard has won each of the last two editions of Roland Garros, and will be hoping to complete a hat-trick of victories at the clay-court Grand Slam that will be taking place from 24 May to 7 June.

The 22-year-old, however, also faces a race against time to recover from a wrist injury that he had picked up at the Barcelona Open earlier this month, which had forced him to forfeit his Round of 16 clash against Tomas Machac and pull out of the Madrid Open last week.

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Alcaraz had recently been spotted at the Laureus Awards in Madrid with a green cast around his right wrist, and will be undergoing medical tests in the next few days that will determine his participation at the French Open, where he had defeated arch-rival Jannik Sinner in incredible fashion last year.

Former Grand Slam finalist Greg Rusedski, however, believes that Alcaraz should not be putting his career on the line just to complete a hat-trick of titles at Roland Garros, a feat that had last been achieved in men's singles by legendary compatriot Rafael Nadal.

"He needs to look at the long-term picture and say I’ve got a 10-year career," the 1997 US Open runner-up said on the latest episode of the Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast.

Rusedski cites del Potro's example in advice to Alcaraz

The Canadian-born British former tennis player further cited the example of former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and how his career was affected due to his inability to solve a wrist problem.

"He can’t afford to have a wrist injury that is serious. Look at Juan Martin del Potro, one of the greats of our game. He never solved his wrist problem and never came back to the player he once was.

"So take your time, make sure it’s 100 per-cent ready to go. Don’t rush it back. So I don’t think he really overall cares about the ranking points. It’s about health is your wealth.

"The four majors are what really define you as a great of the game. He’s already won seven. He’s only three away from 10 already at such a young age, which is incredible," Rusedski added.

Alcaraz had won his seventh Major earlier this year when he defeated Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 at the Australian Open final in January, becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam and denying the 38-year-old a record 25th Grand Slam.

More recently, Alcaraz had faced Sinner in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, suffering a 6-7 (5-7) 3-6 defeat at the hands of the Italian star.