World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Barcelona Open on Wednesday following tests on his right wrist.
The top-seeded Spaniard sustained the injury during Tuesday’s 6-4, 6-2 first-round win against Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen.
“I felt my wrist give out on a return during the match,” Alcaraz said. “After the tests, we saw that it’s a more serious injury than any of us expected, and I have to listen to my body so it doesn’t affect me in the future.
“I have to go home to start my recovery as soon as possible with my team — the doctors, and the physical therapist — and get, or try to get, as healthy as soon as possible for the tournaments I have coming up.”
Alcaraz had been scheduled to face Czech Tomas Machac, who advances to the quarterfinals in a walkover, in Barcelona.
Alcaraz, 22, lost his No. 1 ranking this week to Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who beat him in straight sets in Sunday’s final in Monte Carlo. He could have regained the top spot by winning the ATP 500 clay-court event in Barcelona.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner is 22-3 this season including titles at the Australian Open and in Doha.
The clay-court season continues with tournaments in Madrid next week and in Rome from May 4-17. Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion at the French Open, which begins on May 24.
–Field Level Media
