Monte Carlo | Alcaraz pulls out!

The big clashes between Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner later this week at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters have been postponed to another time at another event following the withdrawal of Alcaraz who was set to meet Djokovic in the semi-finals before possibly facing Sinner in the final!

With that semi-final encounter now dashed, a Djokovic Sinner shootout in the final is more than likely!.

Alcaraz announced his withdrawal on Tuesday via social media citing an arm problem a day before he was scheduled to meet Felix Auger Aliassime in round two having, as the third seed, been given an opening round bye.

There were some doubts about the 20-year-old’s fitness but that was around an ankle injury he picked up in South America, an injury he declared had cleared up when asked about it last Sunday.

He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I have been working in Monte Carlo and trying to recover until the last minute from an injured pronator teres in my right arm, but it was not possible and I cannot play!

“I was really looking forward to playing. See you next year!”

Lucky Loser Lorenzo Sonego of Italy will replace the Spaniard to face Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday for a spot in the third round after the Canadian beat another Italian Luca Nardi 6-2 6-3 in his opener last Monday.

The first signs of problems in the Alcaraz camp emerged when he appeared for practice with a heavily strapped right arm and there were heated exchanges between the player and his coaching staff.

Ironically it is his second consecutive withdrawal from the event having also pulled out injured in 2023.