World-class tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the Barcelona Open due to a severe wrist injury. Alcaraz initially won his opening match against Otto Virtanen but required medical attention for wrist pain. He was scheduled to face Tomas Machac in the second round but decided to pull out after undergoing a test on his right wrist.
The two-time champion in Barcelona had recently returned to competition after losing the Monte-Carlo Masters final to Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that he must prioritize his health and well-being to avoid further injury. He hopes to recover quickly and return to the tennis court as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie has advanced to the quarter-finals in Barcelona after defeating American Ethan Quinn in a tough three-set match. Norrie is set to face Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, who has yet to drop a set on home soil. On the WTA Tour, Katie Boulter has progressed to the last eight after knocking out third seed Jaqueline Cristian on the clay courts at the Open de Rouen in France. Additionally, Iga Swiatek has secured a quarter-final berth at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, marking her first match with new coach Francisco Roig.
Novak Djokovic has also announced his return to action at the Mutua Madrid Open, live on Sky Sports Tennis from April 21 to May 3.