After finishing the Monte Carlo Masters as a runner-up only two days ago, Carlos Alcaraz started his campaign at the next ATP 500 event on home soil in Barcelona. Still, after playing one match into the tournament, the Spaniard has decided to withdraw from the Barcelona Open 2026 on the 15th April due to an injury.

He was set to go against Tomas Machac in R16. After Carlos's withdrawal, Machac will go straight into the quarterfinals against Andrey Rublev.

Why did Alcaraz withdraw?

During his first match at Barcelona Open 2026, the 22-year-old received a medical timeout towards the end of the first set after feeling pain in his forearm, especially while hitting with his forehand. He was able to finish his match after receiving treatment from a physiotherapist and went on to win it with a 6 - 4, 6 - 2 score against Otto Virtanen.

But the strain developed into a wrist injury, forcing him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open 2026. Alcaraz and his team decided not to take a risk.

"After seeing the results today, it turns out the injury is a little more serious than we all expected. I need to listen to my body and do what's best for me so it doesn't affect me in the future," said Carlos at the press conference.
He further added at the end, " I never like to withdraw from any tournament, but especially this one. With much sadness, I have to go home and begin my recovery as soon as possible with my team, the doctors, and the physio, and try to be as fit as possible. I hope you'll see me back on a tennis court very soon."

With Jannik Sinner not being in the Barcelona Open 2026, a good run in this tournament could have been Alcaraz's chance to climb in the ranking to reclaim the World No. 1 spot, which he lost to Sinner after being defeated by him in the Monte Carlo Masters final earlier this week.

What does it mean for the clay season?

The next tournament scheduled for Carlos Alcaraz after the Barcelona Open 2026 is the Madrid Open, where neither the Spaniard nor Sinner has any points to defend. The ATP ranking entering Madrid will officially be:

  1. Sinner - 13,350
  2. Alcaraz - 12,960

After the Barcelona Open 2026, he was set to play the Madrid Open from April 20, followed by the Italian Open between May 5 and May 17, and the French Open at Roland Garros, which is scheduled to run from May 24 to June 7.

It remains unclear how long it will take for the World No. 2 to recover from his right wrist injury. The following weeks may leave him little to no room to breathe if he sticks to his schedule for the clay season and his wrist takes a long time to heal.

The duration of his participation this clay season remains uncertain.

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