Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the upcoming Davis Cup quarterfinals has left a significant void in the Spanish team, as the world number one faces a setback due to injury. The young Spaniard announced today that scans have confirmed edema in his right leg, stemming from an incident during his recent match against Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals.
In a tightly contested encounter, Alcaraz suffered a right hamstring injury while lunging for a return late in the first set. He managed to complete the match but ultimately fell short, losing 7-6(4), 6-3. Despite returning to action with his leg taped, the toll of the injury became apparent in the subsequent set.
Alcaraz had traveled to Bologna, hopeful of representing Spain, but further examinations revealed that the swelling in his leg required rest and precluded any competitive play. Taking to social media, the six-time Grand Slam champion expressed his disappointment: “I’m very sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play with Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna. I have an edema in the sciatica of my right leg and the medical recommendation is not to compete.”
The absence of Alcaraz is compounded by the fact that Spain will also be without Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, another top competitor. This leaves the Spanish team at a disadvantage as they prepare to face Czechia in what they hope will be a successful pursuit of their seventh Davis Cup title.
Initially, Alcaraz was part of a roster that included Jaume Munar, Pedro Martinez, and Marcel Granollers. However, with three of the world’s top 10 players now unavailable—following Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti’s earlier withdrawals from the Italian team—the competition landscape in Bologna has become more unpredictable.
Davidovich Fokina, who is currently ranked 14th in the world, did not make the final squad at the discretion of captain David Ferrer, who had to make tough decisions with limited options. As the Davis Cup progresses, all eyes will be on how Spain navigates this challenging situation without their key players.
