Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from Monte Carlo Masters as he reveals injury issue

Ewan West 09 Apr 2024 3:15 PM

Carlos Alcaraz is out of the Italian Open

Carlos Alcaraz has announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters and confirmed he is dealing with an injury issue, as had been feared.

The Spanish star divulged he is suffering from an injured “pronator teres” in his right arm and explained it was not possible for him to play despite “trying to recover until the last minute.”

Alcaraz took to the courts in Monte Carlo with a heavily bandaged right forearm ahead of the tournament, with reports suggesting he showed discomfort during a practice session lacking in intensity on Monday.

The world No 3 was set to make just his second appearance in Monte Carlo, having lost his only previous match at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament to Sebastian Korda in 2022.

The 20-year-old, who was due to face Felix Auger-Aliassime in his opening match on Wednesday, has joined his compatriot Rafael Nadal in pulling out of the event due to injury.

In a post shared on his social media accounts, Alcaraz revealed he is dealing with a physical issue as he shared the unfortunate news of his enforced withdrawal.

The Spaniard wrote: “I have been working in Monte Carlo and trying to recover until the last minute from an injured pronator teres in my right arm, but it was not possible and I cannot play! I was really looking forward to playing… See you next year!”

I have been working in Monte Carlo and trying to recover until the last minute from an injured pronator teres in my right arm, but it was not possible and I cannot play! I was really looking forward to playing… See you next year! @ROLEXMCMASTERS @atptour pic.twitter.com/hQ8ANcAxPI

— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) April 9, 2024

Prior to this blow, Alcaraz had admitted his first few matches of the clay-court season would likely be “difficult” due to a separate lingering injury concern.

The two-time Grand Slam champion has not played a clay-court match since rolling his ankle in his opening round outing against Thiago Monteiro at the Rio Open in February

Alcaraz clarified he had not been experiencing any pain in his ankle, but expressed caution ahead of his return to the surface on which he sustained the injury.

“Well honestly, I thought about it in my first practice on clay, with all the slices and all that stuff. I was really careful on it. But after the first hour, I just try not to think about it and played normally,” he told Eurosport in Monte Carlo.

“Right now, I don’t feel pain on the ankle, I am moving normally. It’s something that I have to trust, and let’s see. But it’s gonna be difficult probably – the first matches with the ankle. In my mind probably there’s gonna be thoughts on it.”

Alcaraz is next due to feature at the Barcelona Open, where he is the two-time defending champion. The ATP 500 tournament will run from April 15-21.