BREAKING NEWS: World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz OUT of Australian Open with foot injury: Rafael Nadal promoted to top seed as he seeks back-to-back grand slam titles
- The Spanish star injured his right hamstring with an ‘unnatural movement’ in training
- The 19-year-old is due to play his first match under January 11
- The injury comes after he missed time with a torn abdominal muscle in November
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Australian Open due to a leg injury.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who won her maiden grand slam title at the US Open in September, revealed that she suffered a muscle injury in her right leg during pre-season training.
‘I worked hard to reach my best level in Australia. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong (warm-up event) or the Australian Open,’ Alcaraz posted on social media on Friday.
‘It’s a difficult moment, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look ahead. See you at the 2024 Australian Open.’
Alcaraz (pictured in action in the United Arab Emirates last month) explained that he injured his right hamstring with an ‘unnatural movement’ in training
The 19-year-old had a fantastic year in 2022, beating Casper Ruud to win the US Open title
Alcaraz explained that he got the injury ‘through a chance, unnatural movement in training’ which resulted in him hurting the semimembranosus muscle in his right hamstring.
Alcaraz’s withdrawal means his compatriot, reigning champion Rafael Nadal, will be promoted to top seed for his title defense when the first grand slam of the year begins in Melbourne on January 16.
The 19-year-old was sidelined for several weeks with a muscle tear in his abdominal wall in early November, which prevented him from competing in that month’s ATP finals.
Alcaraz missed several weeks in November with a stomach injury, but returned in time to compete in Abu Dhabi last month (pictured)
He recovered in time to compete at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi last month, where he lost to Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-1.
Alcaraz is scheduled to play his first match in Australia on January 11 at the Tennis Plays for Peace charity event at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, home of the Open.
He had a fantastic year in 2022, winning the US Open men’s singles crown and becoming the youngest man to top the end-of-year ATP world rankings.
The teenager’s absence from the Australian Open also follows the retirement last year of women’s title holder Ash Barty, seven-times champion Serena Williams and six-times men’s champion Roger Federer.
Dual Open winner and fellow former world No.1 Naomi Osaka is also in deep doubt, having not played since September and not featuring in any of Australia’s top summer events.
The Open draw will be held at Melbourne Park on January 12.
