World Number 3, Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz announced on Friday that he is pulling out of the Italian Open in Rome as he continues to recover from an arm injury.
After roaring into the Miami Open quarterfinals, Alcaraz injured his right forearm during a practice session in Monaco. He has continued to struggle with pain and edema, with the situation plaguing his ability to play.
The Spaniard’s attempt to become the first player to win three straight Madrid Open titles collapsed as he endured a 4 – 6, 6 – 3, 6 – 2 loss to Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
This injury previously caused Alcaraz to withdraw from the Monte Carlo Masters at the beginning of April.
The twenty year old player had experienced feeling some complications with how his arm felt in his loss to Andrey Rublev.
Afterwards Alcaraz told reporters he was optimistic about playing in the Italian Open.
He was quoted as saying, “I’m going to work these days to be close to 100% or in a good way to play Rome, but I’m gonna decide these days. But I think I’ll be okay to play Rome.”
However, on Friday Alvaraz rescinded his prior statement by stating on social media, “I felt some pain after playing in Madrid, some discomfort in my arm. Today I did some tests and I have a muscle edema in my pronator teres [the anterior forearm muscle], a consequence of my recent injury. Unfortunately I will not be able to play in Rome. I need to rest so I can recover and play 100% pain free. I am very sorry, I will see you next year.”
During his Rome debut last year Alvaraz made his way into the third round. This year the Italian Open, an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event, runs through May 8 – 19.
Next up, French Open
The reigning Wimbledon champion and the 2022 U.S. Open champion is due to play next at the French Open, which starts May 26th.
In Madrid Alvaraz played with a compression sleeve on his right forearm. With therapy and training it is still not for certain if Alcaraz will be well enough to play the French Open, but the tennis world will be watching in anticipation of Alvaraz recovering and playing this tournament.
Alcaraz is 18 – 5 win-loss in the 2024 season. He won his thirteenth tour level title in March at the Indian Wells Open and is presently fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.
