World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from 2023 Australian Open due to an injury
ATP
Carlos Alcaraz won't compete at the 2023 Australian Open, as he was forced to withdraw from the tournament because of an injury.
The Spaniard had a really breakthrough 2022 season. Although he lost already in the third round at the Australian Open, he later reached his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros and made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon.
But the peak of Alcaraz's season came at the end when he managed to beat everyone in New York to lift the US Open trophy, becoming the youngest ATP World No. 1 in the process.
His season, however, didn't end well, as he picked up an abdominal injury that forced him to retire from his quarter-final match at the Paris Masters and later also withdraw from the ATP Finals.
Only about a month after retiring in Paris, Alcaraz appeared on the tennis courts again, competing at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, which is an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.
But the Spaniard was a shadow of himself. He first lost to Andrey Rublev 2-6, 1-6, and after that, he lost also to Casper Ruud 1-6, 4-6. Although he lost both of his matches, the positive thing was that he was back on the tennis courts.
However, he later picked up a right leg injury during his pre-season training, which won't allow him to compete at the 2023 Australian Open, as he announced his withdrawal from the first major of the season.
"When I was at my best in preseason, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. This time, it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg."
"I'd worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia, but unfortunately, I won't be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong or the Australian Open. It's tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024, Australian Open."
On top of missing out on a chance to add another Grand Slam title to his collection, Alcaraz's World No. 1 spot on the ATP Tour will be under threat as well. Novak Djokovic, who won the Australian Open nine times before, will be the hottest candidate to take it from him.
