Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion of the Australian Open, has opted to withdraw from the upcoming ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. This decision comes shortly after his historic victory at the Australian Open, where he claimed the title, marking the completion of his career Grand Slam. Following an intense fortnight of competition, Alcaraz determined that he requires additional time for rest and recovery before reentering the tournament circuit.
The tournament organizers confirmed Alcaraz’s withdrawal through their social media channels, expressing their understanding of his situation: “Carlos Alcaraz won’t defend his title in Rotterdam. After his exertions over the past two weeks, he needs more time to return to action. We wish Carlos a swift recovery.”
Alcaraz made a significant impact in Rotterdam last year, where he notched victories over prominent players such as Hubert Hurkacz and Alex de Minaur to capture his first title of the 2025 season. During that year, he enjoyed a remarkable run, securing eight titles and achieving a stellar record of 71 wins against just nine losses.
With Alcaraz absent, the tournament will see Alexander Zverev as the top seed. Zverev recently faced Alcaraz in a challenging semifinal match at the Australian Open, which was highly competitive and went the distance to five sets. Other notable players scheduled to compete in Rotterdam include Félix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur, Jack Draper, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Bublik, and Karen Khachanov.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is expected to make his return to the court at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, beginning February 16th. During his last appearance in Doha, he reached the quarterfinals, where he was narrowly defeated by Jiri Lehecka. As the world closely watches his recovery, fans and analysts alike are eager to see when the young Spaniard will return to competitive play.
