Bitter news just before the start of the Australian Open!
Carlos Alcaraz (19) cannot take part in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year (from January 16) due to injury. The US Open winner announced this on Twitter.
The Spanish world number one suffered a muscle injury in his right leg during training, which is why he had to cancel his start at the Australian Open.
Alcaraz: “I worked so hard to get my best level for Australia. (…) It’s tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look ahead.”
Alcaraz already missed the ATP finals in Turin and the Davis Cup with the Spanish team at the end of last year. At that time he had to take a break because of a muscle tear in his left abdominal wall, which he suffered in the quarterfinals at the Masters in Paris at the beginning of November.
After winning the first Grand Slam title of his career at the US Open last year against the Norwegian Casper Ruud, Alcaraz rose to become the youngest number 1 in tennis history in September 2022.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz has to cancel the Australian Open due to injury
However, the Spaniard also benefited from the injuries of Grand Slam record winner Rafael Nadal (36) or Olympic champion Alexander Zverev (25) and the non-participation of Novak Djokovic (35, was not allowed to start due to a lack of corona vaccination).
There was also a short-term cancellation for women: Venus Williams (42) cannot start in Australia. The reason is an unspecified injury she sustained this week at the tournament in Auckland, New Zealand.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner was given a wild card for the Australian Open last month to compete in her 22nd major at Melbourne Park. The Australian Kim Birrell now gets her wild card place.
The Australian Open starts on January 16th, the final will be played in Melbourne on January 29th. Due to Alcaraz’s injury, his Spanish compatriot Nadal has now become the new number one seed.
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In addition to the Grand Slam record champion, the Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic and the Russian Daniil Medvedev (26) are the favorites for the title Down Under.
Alexander Zverev celebrates his Grand Slam comeback after an injury break of almost seven months. Last summer he tore a triple ligament at the French Open in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal.
