Carlos Alcaraz forced to abruptly halt practice session as stomach pains disrupts ATP Finals preparation

Carlos Alcaraz commences his ATP Finals campaign in three days' time, but his inclusion in the event has been cast into some doubt after stomach pain forced him to end his practice session with Flavio Cobolli. While there is no panic yet, it is a cause for concern if his condition deteriorates.

The Spaniard is widely seen as the favourite to clinch this title, a tournament he has never succeeded at before. However, he may not get a better chance than this one with Jannik Sinner missing out through injury. The Italian defeated him last year to win a second consecutive title, but his reign in Turin will come to an end.

As for Alcaraz, he will be determined to get his hands on the ultimate prize. Coming into the tournament in blistering form, he won the Vienna Open and Paris Masters title while yet to lose a match on an indoor hardcourt this year.

His title credentials were set even further in stone after a practice set and super tiebreak went his way against the World No.1 Alexander Zverev. An early statement made before the event kicks off on Sunday.

Alcaraz will begin his title quest against Frances Tiafoe on Monday, 16th November. He has a few days to prepare for the match, but a slight blip in this stage has come today.

According to Marca, he opted to cut his practice with the Italian No.2 short by 20 minutes, preserving himself for when the competition gets up and running. His entire team of Samuel López, Álvaro Alcaraz, Juanjo Moreno, Alberto Lledó, and Albert Molina were all on the scene.

There were some early concerns over his knee as well. Alcaraz was first spotted in Turin with taping on his right knee, but that is just a precaution and nothing severe. The World No.3 has played a lot of tennis since the US Open, only really getting a proper break right after losing in the third round of the Shanghai Masters to Zizou Bergs ahead of a return to Europe.

He is sure to give an update when he speaks to the media in the pre-tournament press conference, as will the other seven challengers he will hope to fend off with another coveted trophy on the line.

Alcaraz is in a favourable group, especially compared to his main rival, Zverev. Daniil Medvedev is the toughest on paper having beaten him earlier in the year in Indian Wells. However, Alcaraz bettered him much more recently in Vienna. Flavio Cobolli and Tiafoe make up the rest of the group, two players who have not enjoyed the best of form as of late. The other group consists of Zverev, Ben Shelton, Arthur Fils and Rafael Jodar.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion will rest up and get ready for a fourth ATP Finals campaign. The runner-up last year, he will hope to go one better this time round.