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 thought. The Spaniard, who was attempting to regain the world No 1 ranking, won his opening match but experienced wrist pain and was scheduled to face Tomas Machac in the next round. Following a medical examination, Alcaraz decided to withdraw from the tournament to avoid further aggravating the injury. This decision comes after Alcaraz had recently returned to competition, just 48 hours after losing the Monte-Carlo Masters final to Jannik Sinner. The injury may impact Alcaraz's preparation for the defense of his French Open title, which begins on May 24. Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie advanced to the quarter-finals in Barcelona, while Katie Boulter progressed to the last eight on the WTA Tour. Novak Djokovic 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.