World-class tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the Barcelona Open due to a severe right wrist injury. Alcaraz initially won his opening match against Otto Virtanen with a score of 6-4, 6-2, but he started to feel intense pain in his wrist and had to undergo medical treatment.
The two-time champion in Barcelona was set to compete against Tomas Machac in the second round but decided to pull out of the tournament after a medical examination revealed the injury was more serious than anticipated. Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that he must prioritize his health and recovery to avoid any further damage. The Spaniard will now focus on recuperating with his team and doctors, aiming to be fit for the upcoming tournaments in Madrid and Rome, as well as the French Open title defense, which begins on May 24.
Meanwhile, British No 1 Cameron Norrie advanced to the quarter-finals in Barcelona, defeating American Ethan Quinn in a challenging three-set match. Norrie will face Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals. On the WTA Tour, Katie Boulter progressed to the last eight after defeating third seed Jaqueline Cristian in France. Additionally, Iga Swiatek secured a quarter-final berth at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, winning her first match of the year on clay against Germany's Laura Siegemund.
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.