Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from Barcelona Open due to wrist injury
Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to pull out of the Barcelona Open after sustaining a right wrist injury during his opening-round triumph over Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen on Tuesday, reports BritPanorama.
The 22-year-old Spanish star managed to defeat Virtanen in straight sets despite experiencing discomfort throughout the match. Medical examinations revealed the injury to be more severe than initially thought.
Alcaraz explained the situation, stating, “I felt my wrist give out on a return during the match. After the tests, we saw that it’s a more serious injury than any of us expected, and I have to listen to my body so it doesn’t affect me in the future.”
The Spaniard confirmed that he would return home immediately to begin rehabilitation under the supervision of his medical staff, including doctors and physiotherapists. “I have to go home to start my recovery as soon as possible with my team – the doctors, and the physical therapist – and get, or try to get, as healthy as possible as soon as possible for the tournaments I have coming up,” he added.
Alcaraz’s primary focus now shifts to Roland Garros, with the 2026 French Open set to commence on May 18. He is targeting an unprecedented third consecutive title at the Parisian clay-court major.
This injury comes shortly after Alcaraz competed in Barcelona, just two days post his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Monte-Carlo Masters final— a result that saw the Italian reclaim the world number one ranking. Winning in Barcelona could have enabled Alcaraz to regain top spot from Sinner, but his hopes now hinge on the recovery process.
Having claimed the Barcelona title in both 2022 and 2023 and finishing as runner-up last year, this marks the second time in three years that he has had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
Despite the setback, Alcaraz’s season remains strong, with a 21-3 win-loss record, two titles, and prize money exceeding $4.3 million. He aims to compete in both the Madrid and Rome Masters events as he works towards defending his title at Roland-Garros, where he has shown remarkable prowess in past tournaments.
The current scenario serves as a reminder of the fragility of athletic prowess; even the most promising careers can be momentarily stalled by injury. How Alcaraz navigates this setback could shape not just the trajectory of his season, but also his legacy in the sport.
