Sports · Tennis · 10 hrs ago
Stubbs says Djokovic-style serve may have contributed to Alcaraz's wrist injury
Carlos Alcaraz was sidelined by a wrist injury for nearly five months, from Barcelona until the US Open.
Former Australian player Rennae Stubbs has offered a possible explanation: she believes changes Alcaraz made while trying to copy parts of Novak Djokovic's serve may have contributed to the injury.
Stubbs says the adjustments to his wrist movement may have caused problems, but the account does not establish that this was the injury's cause.
Alcaraz has long admired Djokovic's serve, and Stubbs says the two players' serving motions look similar.
Getting his serve back to full strength is a key part of Alcaraz's recovery, according to Stubbs, who said it had looked less powerful at the US Open.
She says a stronger serve will matter if Alcaraz wants to put pressure on Jannik Sinner, and predicts he may continue to have some wrist difficulties.
Rennae Stubbs said Carlos Alcaraz may have injured his wrist while trying to copy parts of Novak Djokovic’s serve.
Stubbs said changes to Alcaraz’s wrist movement during the serve may have affected the joint’s function and mobility.
Alcaraz was sidelined for almost five months, from Barcelona until the US Open, because of the wrist problem.
Stubbs said Alcaraz’s serve looked less powerful during the US Open mixed doubles, when he played with Serena Williams.
She said improving his serve would be crucial if Alcaraz wants to put pressure on Jannik Sinner.
- Who
- Rennae Stubbs proposed the theory about Carlos Alcaraz’s wrist injury and Novak Djokovic’s serve.
- What
- Stubbs said Alcaraz may have contributed to his wrist problems by trying to copy aspects of Djokovic’s serve.
- When
- The article was published on October 16, 2026. Stubbs said she had raised concerns at the US Open.
- Where
- The article refers to Alcaraz’s time away from competition, from Barcelona until the US Open.
- Why
- Stubbs said changes to Alcaraz’s wrist movement while serving may have caused problems with the joint.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Alcaraz was sidelined for almost five months because of his wrist problem.
Alcaraz played mixed doubles with Serena Williams; Stubbs said his serve lacked its usual power.
Il Fatto Quotidiano published Stubbs’s theory that copying aspects of Djokovic’s serve may have contributed to Alcaraz’s wrist injury.
- Person making the claim
- Rennae Stubbs
- Players named
- Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic
- Reported time sidelined
- Almost five months
- Period away from competition
- Barcelona to the US Open
- Mixed doubles partner
- Serena Williams
- Published
- October 16, 2026
What people are saying
Carlos tried to serve like Djokovic, trained a lot to copy him and in the end damaged his wrist
I think these changes and adjustments affected his wrist. I believe he will continue to have some difficulties in the future, unfortunately
Carlos absolutely has to improve his serve; it will be crucial for him if he wants to put pressure on Jannik Sinner