World-class tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to pull out of the Barcelona Open, citing a wrist injury that is more severe than initially anticipated. The injury occurred during his opening match, where he defeated Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2, but experienced wrist pain and required medical attention. Alcaraz, who was attempting to reclaim his world No 1 ranking, was set to face Tomas Machac in the second round. Despite his efforts to continue, the injury proved too significant, and he made the difficult decision to withdraw from the tournament.
In a press conference, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that he must prioritize his health and listen to his body to avoid further damage. The Spaniard will now focus on his recovery, aiming to regain his fitness in time for upcoming tournaments, including the defense of his French Open title. Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie advanced to the quarter-finals in Barcelona after a hard-fought victory over American Ethan Quinn, while Katie Boulter progressed to the last eight at the Open de Rouen in France.
On the WTA Tour, Iga Swiatek secured a quarter-final berth at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, marking her first match with new coach Francisco Roig.