BBC Sport analyses Carlos Alcaraz's ongoing absence from tennis and why wrist injuries are so difficult to manage.

When Carlos Alcaraz walked off the court at Rod Laver Arena in January, he was on top of the world. At 22, he had just completed the career Grand Slam, beating all-time great Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final to claim his seventh major title. A few months earlier he had decimated his rival Jannik Sinner in the US Open final in what was one of most the impressive performances of his illustrious career to date. But the Spaniard has now missed the French Open and Wimbledon, going 114 days without playing a competitive match due to a wrist injury he suffered in April. After returning to training, he has now withdrawn from the upcoming Cincinnati Open, and with the US Open less than a month away, Alcaraz's ability to defend his title is in serious doubt. So, why exactly is Alcaraz's injury proving so troublesome, and how problematic can wrist issues be for tennis players in the long run? Alcaraz has been suffering from tenosynovitis - a painful inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath that surrounds the tendon on the inside of the wrist. Tenosynovitis is typically caused by repetitive movements like gripping and swinging a tennis racket, and can lead to swelling and ongoing tenderness.