Barcelona Open Director Reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s Withdrawal Due to Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz might skip the Madrid Open after withdrawing from the Barcelona Open.

Barcelona Open Director Reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s Withdrawal Due to Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Barcelona Open due to a serious wrist injury sustained during his opening match.
  • Tournament director Tommy Robredo expressed hope for Alcaraz's quick recovery, initially believing the injury was temporary.
  • Alcaraz's withdrawal raises concerns about his participation in the upcoming Madrid Open, starting April 20.

Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the Barcelona Open on Wednesday (April 15) due to a wrist injury he suffered in his opening match. The World No.2 had aimed to play in five tournaments this clay season, but for the third consecutive season, he will have to withdraw from a clay event due to an injury.

Alcaraz had arrived in Barcelona, just hours after his loss to Jannik Sinner at the Monte Carlo Masters. The Spaniard aimed to return to the top of the ATP rankings by winning the ATP championship in Barcelona. He was to defend just 330 points, with Sinner holding just 110 ranking points over him.

The 22-year-old kicked off his campaign at the Barcelona Open on Tuesday (April 14), where he faced Finnish star Otto Virtanen. In the first set of the tie, Alcaraz controlled the match with blazing speed and forehand shots. However, while trying to break Virtanen in the ninth game, he twisted his arm to hit a shot.

At first, he thought it was a minor discomfort, but later called for a medical timeout and was treated. He continued the match and claimed the win. But on Wednesday (April 15), he was meant to kick off training from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm local time, but he canceled the training sessions. Hours later, his test results for the wrist injury indicated it was serious.

The former World No.1 entered the press conference room at the Barcelona Open with an unfamiliar expression and then announced that he was pulling out of the tournament. Barcelona Open director Tommy Robredo admitted during an interview with Mundodeportivo that he thought Alcaraz’s injury was a temporary inflammation:

Everyone wants to see Carlos (Alcaraz) play. But that’s how it is in sports: sometimes you’re there, sometimes you’re not. I hope he recovers as soon as possible, because as a tennis enthusiast, all I wish is that he returns to the court very soon so we can continue to admire him. We thought it was mainly for a check-up, and that it was nothing abnormal. That it would simply be a temporary inflammation due to a bad movement, as sometimes happens.

Alcaraz’s withdrawal means Tomas Machac has secured his place in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open. Lorenzo Musetti is the highest-seeded player remaining at the tournament and has a chance to win it. Alex de Minaur, who is the third seed, was seeking to compete for the title, but crashed out in the round of 16 after losing to Hamad Medjedovic.

Carlos Alcaraz hopes to recover quickly from wrist injury

Carlos Alcaraz didn’t reveal much about the wrist injury, but there are reports that he might miss the Madrid Open. The Spanish star has no point to defend at the Madrid Open, which will make him play without pressure should he compete. Also, there’s a chance Jannik Sinner won’t compete at the Madrid tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/CARLOS ALCARAZ NEWS)

The Madrid Open kicks off on April 20, just four days from today. The big question will be whether Alcaraz can recover in time to play in the event. During his press conference at the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz maintained that he aims to recover from the wrist injury as soon as possible:

As I said yesterday, it’s something I’ve felt before and I didn’t think it would get any worse, that it was simply a niggle from the demands of the week. I never like to withdraw from any tournament, but especially this one. With much sadness, I have to go home and begin my recovery as soon as possible with my team, the doctors, and the physio, and try to be as fit as possible. I hope you’ll see me back on a tennis court very soon.

The last time Alcaraz featured at the Madrid Open was in 2024. He had suffered an injury that forced him to withdraw from the Monte Carlo Masters and then skip the Barcelona Open. In Madrid, he reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champion Andrey Rublev in three sets. He won the title in 2023.

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