Alcaraz Withdraws from Barcelona Open Due to Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Barcelona Open due to a wrist injury that proved to be more severe than initially anticipated. Following his opening-round win over Otto Virtanen, Alcaraz was set to face Tomas Machac but decided to withdraw after undergoing medical tests. The Spanish tennis star, who was aiming to reclaim the world No 1 ranking, expressed his disappointment, stating that he must prioritize his health and recovery to avoid further complications. Alcaraz's withdrawal comes after a grueling schedule, having returned to competition just 48 hours after losing the Monte-Carlo Masters final to Jannik Sinner. Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie advanced to the quarter-finals in Barcelona, while Katie Boulter and Iga Swiatek also made progress in their respective tournaments. Novak Djokovic has announced his return to action at the Mutua Madrid Open, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis from April 21 to May 3.