Alcaraz’s wrist injury was more serious than expected
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Barcelona Open after picking up a wrist injury during his run to the Monte-Carlo Masters final.
In that final, he fell in straight sets to Jannik Sinner and then slipped down to world number two in the ATP rankings. But despite the loss, Alcaraz still had a positive start to his clay season.
He was scheduled to play in Barcelona, where he would have been defending 330 ranking points. However, after returning home, Alcaraz noticed some discomfort in his wrist, which turned out to be worse than he and his team had first thought.
Rick Macci said Carlos Alcaraz made ‘right call’ after withdrawal
“Athletes at the highest level know the drill. It is a slippery slope, and he has to pump the brakes.
Macci believes Alcaraz did the right thing, posting on X: “The Spanish Magician made the right call by pulling out of the tournament.”
The former Serena Williams coach added: “Because a wrist forearm injury, especially with a high octane explosive gunslinger like Carlos, it can linger to the hand and finger.”
Alcaraz was denied in last year’s Barcelona Open final by Holger Rune, who earned his first tour-level title in two years.
The defeat didn’t slow him down, though. He responded by going on an incredible run, claiming back-to-back titles at the Italian Open, Roland Garros and Queen’s.
Alcaraz faces pressure to defend ranking points during the clay season
Sinner’s lead over Alcaraz at the top of the ATP rankings widened after Alcaraz withdrew from Barcelona, and with several points to defend during the clay swing, that gap could get even larger.
It’s a stretch that will have a big impact on whether or not he remains within touching distance of Sinner at the top of the world rankings.
If Alcaraz is healthy enough to return in time for Madrid, it’ll help him close the gap on Sinner, since he didn’t play there last year. But he’ll then have to protect 1,000 points at the Italian Open and another 2,000 at Roland Garros.
There are plenty more crucial defences ahead for Alcaraz between now and Flushing Meadows as well.
Right now, he has 13,240 points — sitting just 110 back of Sinner but holding a big advantage over Alexander Zverev in third (5,555).
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