Why did Carlos Alcaraz withdraw from Barcelona Open 2026?
(Courtesy : @carlitosalcarazz/Instagram)
Carlos Alcaraz had lost to Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final last year.
In a shocking twist, World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz announced his decision to pull out of the ongoing ATP Barcelona Open.
The competition kicked off from April 13, and Alcaraz was the top seed. The Spaniard won his opening round comfortably against Sweden’s Otto Virtanen in straight sets.
He had a day’s break to rest and recover, ahead of his second round against Tomas Machac. However, Alcaraz had spoken about suffering from wrist pain in a translated Spanish interview with Eurosport.
“In the end, they are discomforts that come out. I think I’ve played a lot of games in a few days, with very little rest between games”, the six-time Grand Slam champion had said shortly after his win over Virtanen.
“Coming here, with a travel issue and little preparation and jumping on the track… In the end, there are always small discomforts that you have to try to take care of as best as possible. Now, when I leave, I will talk to my team, the physio will assess me, and we will see how it goes.
“But I believe and feel that it is not going to be anything serious, that we will be able to take the court on Thursday,” he had added further.
Clearly now, the pain was more serious than initially anticipated. Alcaraz arrived to Barcelona after a very quick turnaround from Monte Carlo. He had suffered a disappointing loss in the finals to his arch nemesis Jannik Sinner, which also resulted in him conceding the top ranking to the Italian.
However, the decision to withdraw from Barcelona is understandable, given the hectic schedule ahead. Plenty of ATP Masters 1000 are lined up in the coming weeks, in the build-up for the all-important Roland Garros, where Alcaraz will defend his crown.
Following Alcaraz’s withdrawal, the Barcelona field list completely opens up for the rest of the players Lorenzo Musetti is now the highest ranked player in the tournament, and will fancy his chances after getting off to a steady start.
Alex de Minaur too will look to clinch the title, having already advanced to the final eight with consecutive straight sets wins. Arthur Fils and Tomas Machac will be the other players to watch out for, as they hope to make history in Barcelona.
Why did Carlos Alcaraz withdraw from Barcelona Open 2026?
Alcaraz has pulled out of the ATP 500 event due to wrist injury.
What did Carlos Alcaraz say on his withdrawal from the event?
While the Spaniard has not put out a statement after hid withdrawal, this is what he said after his win in the first round. “In the end, they are discomforts that come out. I think I’ve played a lot of games in a few days, with very little rest between games. Coming here, with a travel issue and little preparation and jumping on the track…In the end, there are always small discomforts that you have to try to take care of as best as possible. Now, when I leave, I will talk to my team, the physio will assess me, and we will see how it goes. But I believe and feel that it is not going to be anything serious, that we will be able to take the court on Thursday.
When will Carlos Alcaraz next be seen in action?
The Spaniard is expected to return to action at the Madrid Open next week.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.