Carlos Alcaraz quit the Barcelona Open with a wrist injury and cast serious doubt on his fitness and availability for run-up events prior to next month’s French Open.

The Spaniard who lost his No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner through Sunday’s loss to the Italian in the Monte Carlo Casters final was unable to carry on at his home event in Barcelona.

Alcaraz quit the clay event prior to his second-round match against Tomas Machac. The Spaniard injured his wrist in a first-round win over Finn Otto Virtanen and warned that he could make no solid commitment yet to furue play due to his injury.

“It’s with great sadness I have to go back home to start my recovery as soon as possible with my team, with the doctors, with the physio, and try to be as healthy as possible as soon as possible for (future) tournaments,” he said.

“Let’s hope, that you can see me back on a tennis court as soon as possible.”

Alcaraz is now touch and go for the Madrid Masters oddly starting in a week next Wednesday as the ATP stretches out the Masters events in an unpopular  money-spinning exercise.

Alcarraz could face a serious hit to his ranking if he cannot front up in the Spanish capital and next month in Rome, with titles to defend in both venues.

“But I’ve seen today’s tests, and it’s a slightly more serious injury than we all expected.

“In the end I have to listen to my body, what won’t affect me later on: That’s why I have to withdraw from this tournament.

“I never like to withdraw from any tournament, but especially from this one,”

Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2. 

The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour;  Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.

Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.

The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.

Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.

The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.

“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.

“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.

“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.

“I’m so proud of myself.”

Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.

Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from  last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.

“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”

Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.

Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.

Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com

Carlos Alcaraz booked his third straight final at the Barcelona Open on a windy Saturday, repeating his win from last week over Arthur Fils.

The Spanish top seed advanced 6-2, 6-4 into Sunday’s title match, where he takes on Holger Rune for the first time on clay.

Rune, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Karen Khachanov, stands 1-2 against Alcraz on the Tour, with the pair meeting 20 times (10-10) in juniors.

In Monte Carlo eight days ago, Alcaraz needed to come from a set down to beat Fils on his way to the title.

The Barcelona meeting was less dramatic for the local world No. 2, owns titles here from 2022 and 2023 (he was injured and did not play in 2024). He has now won his last 14 Barcelona matches.

Alcaraz was helped in the first set as Fils twice lost serve on double-faults, The French challenger lifted in the second set but was still unable to break through.

He drew a code violation for ball abuse after losing ser to trail 2-1 but saved two match points before Alcaraz clinched victory in 76 minutes.

Alcaraz won his ninth straight clay match, with Fils striking a massive 38 unforced errors.

“I’m just glad it was sunny, even if the wind was really tough to deal with,” Alcaraz said. “He was playing fantastic tennis,

“I had to do what I had to do – and I did it pretty well. I focused on my game and hitting the right shot. I’m happy I was able to do that.

“To be in this final again means a lot. I used to watch the Barcelona finals on TV as a little kid. Let’s see if I can end with the trophy tomorrow in front of my people.”