Alarm bells as Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from the Barcelona Open
The Spaniard, who would have regained the world number one ranking had he been crowned champion in Barcelona, is suffering from a right wrist injury.
“We’ll see what happens,” Alcaraz warned on Tuesday afternoon, after his victory against Otto Virtanen in the first round of the Conde de Godó Trophy and after having to be treated by his physiotherapist on the court for discomfort in his right wrist. This Wednesday at midday, he had a training session scheduled on court 18 of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, but he skipped it to prioritize his recovery. However, a few minutes before 5:30 p.m. (local time), the tournament organizers announced a statement from Carlos Alcaraz: it’s official, he is withdrawing from the Godó.
The two-time winner, in the 2022 and 2023 editions, who last year was runner-up to Holger Rune and who this week was looking for a victory that would have returned him to the world number one ranking, lost last Sunday in Monte Carlo to Jannik Sinner, confirmed then news before a swarm of media representatives, most of whom were forced to leave the match involving Rafa Jódar which was being played at that moment on the Rafa Nadal court.
Without taking questions, Alcaraz announced: “It’s strange and difficult to sit here for the second time and announce that I won’t be able to continue in the tournament.” “As you all saw, yesterday in the match, after a return, my wrist gave way and I felt a discomfort that gradually worsened. It’s something I’d felt before and thought wouldn’t get any worse, just from the strain of the whole week. But after today’s tests, it’s a slightly more serious injury than we all expected. I have to listen to my body, do what’s best for me, and make sure it doesn’t affect me in the future,” he warned.
“I never like to withdraw from any tournament, and especially not this one. With great sadness, I have to return home to begin my recovery as soon as possible with my team, the doctors, and the physiotherapist, and try to be as healthy as possible for the tournaments I have coming up,” Alcaraz added. “I hope you can see me back on a tennis court again as soon as possible,” he concluded. In the front row, he was surrounded by the Godó directors.
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