World number two Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Barcelona Open after suffering a right wrist injury, tournament officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The Spaniard sustained the injury during his straight-sets victory over Otto Virtanen in the opening round. As the tournament’s top seed, Alcaraz was due to face Tomas Machac in the next round.
Speaking after medical tests, Alcaraz said the injury was more serious than initially thought and that stepping back was necessary to avoid long-term damage. He expressed disappointment at withdrawing, especially from a tournament where he has previously enjoyed success, but emphasized the importance of recovery with his medical team.
A two-time champion in Barcelona, Alcaraz had only recently returned to action after finishing runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he lost to Jannik Sinner—a result that saw him drop to second in the world rankings.
The 22-year-old is expected to make his comeback at upcoming tournaments in Madrid and Rome as he prepares to defend his title at the French Open, set to begin in Paris on May 24. Despite the setback, he has enjoyed a strong season so far, holding a 22-3 record and claiming titles at the Australian Open and the Qatar Open.
Meanwhile, veteran British player Jamie Murray has officially retired from professional tennis at the age of 40. A former world number one in doubles, Murray ends his career with an impressive record that includes seven Grand Slam titles and a Davis Cup victory alongside his brother, Andy Murray.
Over a 36-year journey in the sport, Jamie Murray secured 34 career titles, including men’s doubles triumphs at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open in 2016, as well as five mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Reflecting on his career, Murray said he felt grateful for the experiences tennis had given him, bringing an end to a highly successful and decorated chapter in the sport.
