Carlos Alcaraz, the world number 1 in tennis, has suffered a significant setback. The 19-year-old Spanish player has sustained a “muscle tear” in his abdominals, which has forced him to withdraw from the end-of-season Masters and the final phase of the Davis Cup. He announced this unfortunate news on his social media platforms on Saturday. The injury caused him to withdraw during his quarter-final at the Masters 1000 in Paris, where he was leading 6-3, 6-6, 3 points to 1 against the Danish player, Holger Rune (18th), who has since advanced to the final.
He expressed his regret, stating, “Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in the Masters (November 13-20 in Turin) nor the final phase of the Davis Cup (November 22-27 in Malaga). Missing these two vital tournaments is a difficult and painful moment for me,”. Despite having 6,280 points, Alcaraz’s position as world number 1 is not secure for the end of the season. His renowned predecessor, Rafael Nadal, along with the Greek player Stefano Tsitsipas, are potential threats. A successful round at the Turin Masters could earn them 1500 points.
It seems that Alcaraz may be experiencing the consequences of his hectic 2022 season. This year, he made a dramatic ascent by winning his first Grand Slam trophy and his first two titles in Masters 1000, in Miami and Madrid.
Describing his injury, Alcaraz said, “I felt something in my abs in the second set. Eventually, it got worse, so I decided to withdraw. The injury was affecting my performance in several areas; I had difficulty with my forehand, my serve, and every time I turned, I experienced a lot of pain,”. He made this statement during a press conference the day before, where he announced that he would undergo further medical examinations.
