Alcaraz out for Monte Carlo!
Carlos Alcaraz won't be able to defend his chances at the 2024 Monte-Carlo event. Injured to his right forearm, the world number 3 has just withdrawn. He was due to face Felix Auger-Aliassime in his second-round opener on Wednesday (he was exempt from the first round as the No.3 seed in the draw).
The news doesn't really come as a surprise. Alcaraz had indeed appeared weakened during his training sessions on Monegasque clay, as we revealed earlier. With his right forearm bandaged, he was only playing balls sent from the basket, without playing any real points. Hitting only backhands, with the exception of a few sliced forehands or blanks.
The injury is therefore more persistent than hoped, and the Spaniard will not recover in time. He announced this on his social networks.
Carlos Alcaraz: "I worked hard in Monte Carlo, right up to the last minute, to try and recover from an injury to the pronator muscle in my right arm. But it wasn't possible and I can't play! (sad smiley) I was really looking forward to playing... See you next year!"