‘I have to listen to my body’ – Carlos Alcaraz explains withdrawal from upcoming event

Ewan West 09 Sep 2023 5:54 PM

Carlos Alcaraz returns the ball during the US Open Championships

Carlos Alcaraz has explained his decision to pull out of the upcoming 2023 Davis Cup Finals group stage following his exit from the US Open.

The two-time major champion revealed he needs to “listen to his body after a very long tour” and highlighted the “very demanding” calendar as a factor.

The 20-year-old Spaniard was defeated by Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the 2023 US Open on Friday.

World No 88 Albert Ramos-Vinolas has been named as Alcaraz’s replacement in a four-man Spanish team. Captain David Ferrer’s squad also features Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Roberto Bautista Agut and Marcel Granollers.

The group stage for the team competition will be held from September 12-17 across Bologna, Manchester and Valencia. The top two teams from each of the four four-team groups will qualify for the knockout stage of the Finals, which will run from November 21-26.

In a post shared on his social media accounts, Alcaraz confirmed he would not be participating in the upcoming phase of the event.

“I was very excited to play for 🇪🇸 Davis [Cup team] in Valencia, but I have to listen to my body after a very long tour. I need to stop and rest, physically and mentally,” said the Spaniard.

Me hacía mucha ilusión jugar por 🇪🇸 la Davis en Valencia, pero tengo que escuchar a mi cuerpo después de una gira muy larga. Necesito parar y descansar, físicamente y mentalmente. El calendario es muy exigente, todavía queda mucha temporada, y ahora me toca recargar fuerzas.… pic.twitter.com/TY0YXLWQ1k

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 9, 2023

“The calendar is very demanding, there is still a lot of season left, and now I have to recharge my batteries. Good luck to the Spanish team! 💪🏻 I will be supporting you strongly! Come on!”

The Spanish Tennis Federation announced Alcaraz’s replacement in the following statement: “Albert Ramos replaces Carlos Alcaraz in the Spanish Tennis Team that will play the Group Phase of the Davis Cup Finals this coming week in Valencia, from September 12 to 17.

“The 35-year-old veteran tennis player from Barcelona will join the team this afternoon, which this Saturday will carry out its first day of work under the orders of the new captain David Ferrer.

“Ramos was already called up for last year’s Final 8 in Malaga. In 2023, he has been a finalist in Gstaad and a semi-finalist in Cordoba, in addition to reaching the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro and at the ATP Challenger in Parma. In the Davis Cup, he has played five qualifiers with six victories and only two defeats.”

Spain will face Serbia – who will be led by Novak Djokovic – as well as South Korea and Czech Republic, in Group B.