Alcaraz Forced to Withdraw from Barcelona Open Due to Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to pull out of the Barcelona Open due to a wrist injury that proved to be more severe than initially anticipated. The Spanish tennis star, who was seeking to reclaim the world number one ranking, had won his opening match but experienced wrist pain and underwent medical treatment. Alcaraz, a two-time champion in Barcelona, had returned to competition just 48 hours after losing to Jannik Sinner in the Monte-Carlo Masters final. Following a test on his wrist, Alcaraz decided to withdraw from the tournament to avoid further aggravating the injury. He stated, 'I have to listen to my body and prioritize my health to avoid any long-term damage.' Alcaraz now faces a challenging recovery period as he prepares to defend his French Open title, which begins on May 24. Meanwhile, British number one Cameron Norrie advanced to the quarter-finals in Barcelona after a tough three-set win over American Ethan Quinn. On the WTA Tour, Katie Boulter progressed to the last eight at the Open de Rouen in France, while Iga Swiatek secured a quarter-final berth at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Novak Djokovic has also 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.