In a major blow to the Barcelona Open, two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The 22-year-old Spaniard suffered the injury during his 6-4, 6-2 first-round victory over Finland’s Otto Virtanen.
Alcaraz was set to face Czech player Tomas Machac in the second round but has instead returned home to begin an immediate recovery program.
“More Serious Than Expected”
The withdrawal comes at a critical juncture in the clay-court season. Alcaraz addressed the media with visible disappointment, emphasizing the need for long-term caution.
“After the tests, we’ve realised that the injury is more serious than any of us expected, and I need to listen to my body to ensure it doesn’t affect me in the future. It is with great sadness that I have to return home to begin my recovery.” — Carlos Alcaraz
The Road to Roland Garros
Alcaraz’s early exit from Barcelona follows a grueling week in Monaco, where he reached the final of the Monte Carlo Masters but lost a high-intensity match to Jannik Sinner. That defeat saw Sinner overtake him for the world number one spot, leaving Alcaraz at number two.
Despite the setback, Alcaraz’s season has been stellar so far:
2026 Record: 22-3 win-loss.
Titles: Already secured the Australian Open and Qatar Open earlier this year.
Recovery Goal: The Spaniard is aiming for a return at the Madrid Open and Rome Masters to find his rhythm before his French Open title defense begins in Paris on May 24.
Impact on the Draw
With the top seed out, the Barcelona draw opens up significantly. Alcaraz joins a list of high-profile absences and injury concerns that have plagued the early European clay swing, putting more pressure on other top contenders like Sinner and Holger Rune.