Carlos Alcaraz won't compete at this year's Shanghai Masters despite winning the Japan Open only minutes before announcing his withdrawal.
Alcaraz appeared in an injury scare at the start of the Japan Open in Tokyo. He injured his left foot in his first-round match against Sebastian Baez, and even though it looked like the Spaniard would immediately retire from the match and withdraw from the event, he kept competing.
The 22-year-old ultimately went on to win the title in Tokyo after winning five matches, including the final win over Taylor Fritz. He beat the American player 6-4, 6-4, celebrating his eighth trophy of the season.
With the Japan Open over, it was expected that Alcaraz would celebrate his win and move to Shanghai for the ATP Masters 1000 event in the city. However, he soon announced his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters.
The six-time Grand Slam champion posted an update on his Instagram profile, saying that he made a decision together with his team that it would be best to withdraw from the event in Shanghai.
"I'm very disappointed to announce that I won't be able to play the Shanghai Masters this year! Unfortunately, I've been struggling with some physical issues, and after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover."
"I was really looking forward to playing in front of the amazing fans in Shanghai again. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year!"
Alcaraz's Shanghai Masters withdrawal came only minutes after his Tokyo win
Alcaraz's withdrawal was a bit surprising since he lifted the trophy in Tokyo only a few minutes before. He appeared to be in good spirits, celebrating his incredible 2025 season.
"It’s been my best season so far without a doubt. Eight titles, 10 finals… That shows how hard I’ve worked just to be able to experience these moments and accomplish my goals. I didn’t start the year that good, struggling emotionally, so how I came back from that, I’m just really proud of myself, and of all the people around me who have helped me to be in this position."
What's next for Carlos Alcaraz after the Shanghai Masters withdrawal
Alcaraz will now likely travel home to rest and recover for the remainder of the season. He won't play in Shanghai, and he also doesn't appear on the entry lists for the tournaments in Vienna and Basel, unlike the vast majority of the Top 10. Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper, who ended his season early, are the only three Top 10 players to miss that week.
That means that apart from the Six Kings Slam, which is an exhibition held in the second part of October, Alcaraz will first appear on the tennis courts for the Paris Masters, which starts on October 27th.
Popular News
Just In
Loading