In an event as strange as it was alarming, the racket of Carlos Alcaraz , current number 1 in Spanish tennis and one of the most prominent figures on the international circuit, suddenly and without any apparent explanation broke during a technical test prior to the Roland Garros semi-finals.

The incident has sparked an investigation by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) , which has described the event as “unusual” and “potentially worrying”, especially given its timing: just hours before one of the most important matches of Alcaraz’s career .

Sources close to Alcaraz’s team confirmed that the incident occurred on Friday afternoon, during a private training session on one of the auxiliary pitches at the Parisian complex.

Carlos was practicing his serve when, upon hitting the ball, his racket literally broke in two , not at the frame, as often happens with extreme impacts, but from the core of the handle, where the custom cushioning system is located .

“It was like it broke on its own, for no reason,” one of the trainers recounted. “There was no fall, no prior impact. It just… broke. We’d never seen anything like that.”

The ITF’s reaction was swift. In a statement released hours later, the international federation assured that it is taking the matter with the utmost seriousness:

“We always promote the spirit of fair play. We are analyzing the material and gathering all available technical information. If any tampering or intentional manufacturing defect is confirmed, immediate action will be taken.”

Although no individual or entity has been directly accused, the suggestion of possible intentional manipulation has sparked a wave of theories, suspicions, and debates in both sports media and social media.

Alcaraz himself, although visibly affected by the incident, tried to downplay it during his pre-match press conference:

“These things happen, although this time it was quite unusual, yes. I’m calm because I have a team, I have support, and I’m eager to play.”

However, according to sources close to the Spanish team, the coaching staff is reinforcing security measures around Carlos’s equipment, including constant checks of rackets, covers, strings, and even practice balls.

One of the team’s physiotherapists noted:

“It may seem like an exaggeration, but we’re in the semifinals of a Grand Slam. There’s no room for surprises here.”

The news of the broken racket has sparked a storm on social media , where thousands of users began speculating with theories ranging from manufacturing errors to possible sabotage.

The hashtag #RaquetaGate has already accumulated more than 2 million mentions, and some fans even veiledly accuse rival brands or other tennis players’ entourages of trying to “psychologically destabilize” the Murcian champion.

A viral post says:

“This isn’t a coincidence. Right before we play against our toughest opponent. Something smells fishy!”

Others, however, have called for restraint and pointed out that, as strange as it may seem, equipment failures can occur, albeit very rarely, even at the highest level.

Several tennis figures have expressed their support for Alcaraz. Rafael Nadal wrote on social media:

“Carlos is a fighter. It’s not the racket that matters, it’s the heart that matters. Go for it!”

Novak Djokovic, his rival in multiple recent finals, also commented:

“It’s strange, yes, but I’m sure Carlos will stay focused. He’s a professional with great character.”

For now, Carlos Alcaraz remains in the race, focused on his next match and determined not to let this incident become a distraction. But the tournament environment is undoubtedly marked by uncertainty.

The ITF has promised to release the preliminary results of its analysis within the next 48 hours. Until then, the mystery remains… and with it, a question hovering in the international tennis world:

Was it just a coincidence… or is there more to the Spanish No. 1’s broken racket?