Carlos Alcaraz Withdraws from ATP Italian Open Due to Forearm Injury Ahead of French Open

World number three Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming ATP Italian Open due to ongoing pain in his right forearm, an injury that has plagued him in recent tournaments. The young Spanish tennis sensation, who recently saw his title defense and 14-match winning streak in Madrid come to an end, cited the need to rest and recover in order to play pain-free.

“I felt some pain after playing in Madrid, some discomfort in my arm,” Alcaraz shared on social media. “Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Rome. I need to rest so I can recover and play 100 percent pain-free.”

Alcaraz, who reached last year’s semi-finals at the French Open, faces a race against time to regain full fitness ahead of the second Grand Slam of the season. The 20-year-old had been struggling with his forearm during his quarter-final match in Madrid, opting to slice his forehand more to alleviate the stress on his arm.

Despite the setback, Alcaraz remains determined to return to full strength and compete at the highest level. “I have to work hard these days if I want to go to Rome with good feelings, without pain, without thinking about my forearm – but it’s going to be a slow process, I guess. I have to be patient in that way,” he said.

With the French Open set to begin on May 26, Alcaraz will be hoping to recover in time to make a strong impact on the clay courts of Roland Garros. As a two-time Grand Slam champion, including a historic win at the US Open in 2022, Alcaraz’s absence from the Italian Open is a blow to tennis fans eagerly anticipating his return to action.