Alcaraz withdraws from Madrid Open due to injury

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open due an adductor injury sustained in Barcelona. The 21-year-old announced the decision during his pre-tournament press conference on Thursday in the Spanish capital.

“In the Barcelona final I felt something in the left hamstring, I didn’t think that it was that serious,” Alcaraz said. “I’m really disappointed that I’m not able to play here in Madrid. It is a place that I love playing in front of my people, in front of my family, my friends. They are not able to travel so much, so here is a special place for me.

“It was a really difficult situation, really difficult to decide, not [being] able to play. I think it is what it is. Tennis is really a demanding sport. Playing week after week, so many matches in a row and you have to heal your body sometimes and take difficult decisions. I will come back stronger. I will come back with a lot of power for the next tournaments. I’m really disappointed [to] not be playing here in Madrid.”

The Spaniard received treatment on his upper right leg during his defeat to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final last week. The two-time Madrid champion, who also won the title in Monte-Carlo earlier in April, was hoping to be fit to play at the ATP Masters 1000 event but feels that the tournament has come too soon.

“It was the first year I went really far in Monte-Carlo but it was also the first year I lost in the first match in Miami, so I had time to prepare for the clay season,” Alcaraz said. “But it is not easy. A different surface, coming from hard court to clay court and playing so many matches in a row and having no time to rest, is not easy. Tennis players have to take difficult decisions sometimes.”

Alcaraz is now hoping to recover in time to play in Rome, a tournament he missed last season due to an arm injury.

“My plan is going to Rome. My mindset is to do everything it takes to be 100 per cent for Rome. I will do some tests at the beginning of next week just to see how it’s improved and from that let’s see how it’s going to be the next days,” Alcaraz said. “My hope is to play in Rome. If not, the next tournament is Roland Garros for me. So I will try to be on court as soon as possible.”

Alcaraz holds a 24-5 record on the season, highlighted by titles in Monte-Carlo and Rotterdam. The Spaniard is first in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.