Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open after a right‑wrist problem forced him to seek medical attention. The 20‑year‑old Spaniard had entered the tournament with the goal of reclaiming the world No.
1 ranking, and he opened his campaign with a comfortable 6‑4, 6‑2 victory over Finland’s Otto Virtanen. However, during the match he began to feel pain in his wrist, and after receiving treatment he was scheduled to meet Czech player Tomáš Macháč in the second round.
Alcaraz, who has lifted the Barcelona trophy twice, had only returned to competition 48 hours after falling to rival Jannik Sinner in the Monte‑Carlo Masters final. He spent Wednesday training at the historic Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, but after a thorough examination of his right wrist the decision was made to withdraw.
In a press conference Alcaraz explained the situation: “It feels odd and difficult to be here a second time and tell everyone I can’t continue,” he said. “During yesterday’s match, after a return I felt my wrist give out and a discomfort started to build. At first I thought it was just fatigue from a week of intense play, but today’s tests showed the injury is a bit more serious than expected.” He added that listening to his body was essential: “I have to do what’s best for my long‑term health. That’s why I’m pulling out of a tournament that has always been special to me.
I never like to quit, especially not in Barcelona, but I need to head home, start the recovery process with my team, doctors and physiotherapist, and get back to full fitness as quickly as possible for the upcoming events.” Alcaraz’s withdrawal creates a scramble for his next few weeks, as he now faces a tight schedule that includes the Madrid Open and the Italian Open in Rome before defending his French Open title, which begins in Paris on May 24. The Spanish star’s exit also reshaped the draw in Barcelona. British No. 1 Cameron Norrie advanced to the quarter‑finals after a grueling three‑set battle with American Ethan Quinn that lasted two hours and 32 minutes.
Norrie took the first set 6‑3, Quinn fought back to level at 6‑4, and the veteran Brit clinched the decider 6‑4, earning a likely showdown on Friday with 19‑year‑old Spanish hopeful Rafael Jodar, who has yet to drop a set on home soil. Jodar, currently ranked No.
55, rides a wave of confidence after a streak of seven straight victories, highlighted by his first ATP Tour title at a 250‑level clay event in Morocco earlier this month. He also holds a recent win over Norrie from their encounter at the Mexico Open in February. On the women’s side, Britain’s Katie Boulter moved into the last eight at the Open de Rouen in France by upsetting third seed Jaqueline Cristian.
Boulter secured a 7‑6 (7‑5), 4‑6, 6‑1 win over the Romanian, showcasing her growing prowess on clay. Meanwhile, at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, third‑seed Iga Świątek earned a quarter‑final berth with a 6‑2, 6‑3 victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund. The four‑time French Open champion made her first appearance on clay of the season and also debuted a new coaching partnership with Francisco Roig, who recently ended his collaboration with Emma Raducanu.
Świątek commented on the change: “Even though I’m an experienced player, it’s still new for me. I don’t change coaches often, but I’m excited to get a fresh perspective. Roig and I share a similar view on how I should play, and while it will take some time to translate that into results on court, the attitude and work are there, and I’m happy to start this process.” In other news, Novak Djokovic confirmed his return to competition at the Mutua Madrid Open, scheduled from April 21 to May 3.
The Serbian three‑time champion, who last won the Madrid title in 2019, has been absent from the ATP Tour since his March 12 loss to Britain’s Jack Draper at Indian Wells. Djokovic’s comeback will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis, with additional streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers more than 50 percent extra live sport coverage at no additional charge.
Alcaraz’s decision underscores the physical toll that a demanding clay‑court season can exact on even the sport’s brightest talents. While fans will miss seeing the Spaniard compete in Barcelona, his prudent approach to injury management may ultimately preserve his chances of a successful defense of his Roland Garros crown later this spring.
The tennis world will be watching closely as he begins his rehabilitation and prepares for the next chapters of the 2024 season.