Staff Reporter.
Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Barcelona Open due to a right arm injury that also forced the Spanish world number three to miss this week’s Monte Carlo Masters, the ATP 500 tournament organisers said on Sunday.
The Wimbledon champion and world number three has won the title in the past two years, but has been suffering from a right forearm problem.
The Barcelona Open started with qualifying rounds on Saturday and is set for Rafael Nadal’s comeback.
Alcaraz was the two-time defending champion at the Barcelona Open, having lifted the trophy in 2022 and 2023.
A statement from the tournament posted on social media said: “The player has suffered from the injury sustained in Monte Carlo, and did not have a good feeling in his training on Sunday. Wishing you a speedy recovery, we hope to see you next year.”
But Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, is poised for his return to action in Barcelona, having also withdrawn from Monte Carlo.
A hip injury has ruled the 37-year-old out since January, but the Spaniard has been drawn against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli on Monday as he looks to win the tournament for a 13th time.