Rumour mill: Alcaraz wrist damage due to video game obsession

Excessive video-gaming and too many rounds of day-off golf may have landed Carlos Alcaraz in wrist injury hell, with Italian Eurosport speculating on the lack of off-court discipline by the Spaniard.

Alcaraz, who lost the world No. 1 ranking last month to no-nonsense rival Jannik Sinner, is out for the count this clay season and could well miss the grass and Wimbledon under the most pessimistic scenario.

Eurosport commentators put the boot into the 22-year-old’s constant video game habit as well as his penchant for hitting the golf course at every opportunity.

The habits stand in sharp contrast to the work ethic of Sinner and that of iconic Swiss Roger Federer, who was unable to indulge in skiing during all of his career for fear of injury.

Not so for Alcaraz, who is now sitting out ATP play as a possible result of his indulgences.

“We’ve done a little research. Can playing too much golf have an impact? It certainly could,” one commentator said. .

“Spending hours playing video games — and I think many of you have done this — can cause pain in your fingers, hands, or wrists after a while, if you keep playing.

“If he hadn’t done it, would the same inflammation have developed? Maybe yes, maybe not.

“The life of an athlete at this level is also a life of sacrifice.”

He added: “The wrist is vulnerable, and sometimes you have to take care of your body while also understanding that, as a professional athlete, you may have to give up things you enjoy because it could make the situation worse.

“You could inflame a body part by doing movements you can avoid.