World-class tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the Barcelona Open due to a severe right wrist injury. Alcaraz, who was attempting to regain his world No 1 ranking, won his first match but struggled with wrist pain and was set to face Tomas Machac in the second round. The two-time Barcelona champion had only just returned to competition after losing the Monte-Carlo Masters final. Following a medical test, Alcaraz decided to pull out of the tournament to avoid further injury.
In a press conference, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that he must prioritize his health and recovery. The Spaniard now faces a challenging road to recovery as he prepares to defend his French Open title. Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie secured his place in the quarter-finals after a grueling match against American Ethan Quinn. Norrie will face Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, who is on a seven-match winning streak, in the quarter-finals.
On the WTA Tour, Katie Boulter advanced to the last eight after defeating third seed Jaqueline Cristian, while third seed Iga Swiatek secured a quarter-final berth at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Novak Djokovic has also announced his return to action at the Mutua Madrid Open, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.