MADRID – In a significant setback for the tennis world, two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has announced that he will not defend his title at the upcoming French Open due to a right wrist injury. This announcement comes on the heels of his decision to also withdraw from the Italian Open, where he triumphed last year.
Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, suffered the injury during his first-round match at the Barcelona Open earlier this month. Following his win, he was compelled to withdraw from the tournament the next day, marking a troubling turn in his season.
The 20-year-old athlete was also absent from this week’s Madrid Open. However, he made an appearance at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, where he was honored as the world sportsman of the year, despite his wrist being immobilized.
After undergoing further medical evaluations on Friday, Alcaraz took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm his absence from both the Italian Open and Roland Garros. “After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing is to be cautious and not participate in Rome and Roland Garros,” he stated. “It’s a complicated moment for me, but I’m sure we’ll come out stronger from here.”
Alcaraz began 2023 with remarkable success, famously defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, a victory that made him the youngest man to secure all four major titles in tennis history. However, his performance has notably dipped since then, with only one title win at Doha in February and a loss to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo final.
Last year, Alcaraz’s impressive run included victories over Sinner in the finals of both the Italian Open and French Open, where he saved three match points in a gripping match. He also faced Sinner in the Wimbledon final but was unable to clinch the title, though he redeemed himself at the U.S. Open.
The Italian Open is set to commence on May 6, followed by the French Open starting on May 18. Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching Alcaraz’s recovery, hoping for a swift return to the sport he has dominated in recent years.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
