Physical problems

Carlos Alcaraz cancels his appearance in Monte-Carlo

Carlos Alcaraz(Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/CLIVE BRUNSKILL)

The start of the clay court season has been delayed for Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz. The 20-year-old had to cancel his start at the Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo at short notice, as he wrote on X on Tuesday.

"I tried until the last minute to recover from an injury to my right arm, but it wasn't possible," wrote Alcaraz, who would have played the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the opener after a walk-through in round one.

The Wimbledon winner is currently ranked third in the world behind the Serb Novak Djokovic and the South Tyrolean Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz had already been unable to play the tournament last year. On the way to the French Open in Paris, further Masters 1000 tournaments are scheduled in Madrid (end of April) and Rome (beginning of May). Alcaraz only secured the Masters 1000 title on hard court in Indian Wells in March.

Auger-Aliassime now against Sonego
Lorenzo Sonego benefits from Alcaraz's withdrawal. As the lucky loser, the Italian moves straight into the second round and meets Auger-Aliassime.