BARCELONA: Carlos Alcaraz withdrew on Wednesday from the Barcelona Open because of a wrist injury that troubled him in his first-round match, potentially casting doubt over his Roland Garros defence.
"I won't be able to continue in the tournament," Alcaraz told reporters a day after his win over Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen.
"I felt my wrist give out on a return during the match. 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."
It is the second time in three years injury has forced Alcaraz to withdraw from the Barcelona tournament. He won it 2022 and 2023, and finished runner-up to Holger Rune 12 months ago.
Alcaraz had been scheduled to face Tomas Machac on Thursday for a place in the quarterfinals.
"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 possible as soon as possible for the tournaments I have coming up," the Spaniard said.
"I hope you'll be able to see me on the court again as soon as possible."
Alcaraz lost his world number one ranking this week following his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final on Sunday. He would have had a chance to regain it by winning the title in Barcelona.
MEDJEDOVIC OUSTS DE MINAUR
Earlier on Wednesday, Serbian Hamad Medjedovic stunned world number seven Alex de Minaur with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the round of 16.
Medjedovic, ranked 88th in the world, broke for a 5-3 lead in the first set which he served out to love.
De Minaur broke and consolidated for a 3-0 advantage in the second set but the 22-year-old qualifier battled his way back, winning the last five games to secure two breaks and triumph.
The Australian committed five double faults on a difficult afternoon and converted only one of nine break points.
The 2023 Next Gen Finals champion will next face Nuno Borges after the Portuguese defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to progress to the last eight. — AFP
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