World-class tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the Barcelona Open due to a severe right wrist injury. The Spaniard had initially hoped to continue competing despite feeling discomfort during his opening match, but medical tests revealed the injury was more serious than anticipated. Alcaraz, a two-time champion in Barcelona, had been seeking to regain his world No 1 ranking and was scheduled to face Tomas Machac in the second round.
However, he has now decided to prioritize his recovery and withdraw from the tournament. The decision comes as a setback for Alcaraz, who was looking to build momentum ahead of his French Open title defense, which begins on May 24. Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie has advanced to the quarter-finals in Barcelona, securing a hard-fought victory over American Ethan Quinn.
Norrie will face Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar in the next round. On the WTA Tour, Katie Boulter has progressed to the last eight at the Open de Rouen in France, while Iga Swiatek has 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.