Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Barcelona Open due to a wrist injury that proved to be more severe than initially anticipated. Alcaraz, who was aiming to regain his world No 1 ranking, won his first match but struggled with wrist pain and was scheduled to face Tomas Machac in the second round.
Following a medical examination, Alcaraz decided to withdraw from the tournament to avoid further aggravating the injury. This decision comes after Alcaraz recently lost the Monte-Carlo Masters final to Jannik Sinner and was looking to bounce back in Barcelona, a tournament he has won twice before.
Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that he must prioritize his health and recovery to ensure he can participate in upcoming tournaments, including the defense of his French Open title. 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.