MADRID — Carlos Alcaraz will once again face a year without achieving his dream of claiming the Davis Cup for Spain.
The world No. 1 expressed his deep disappointment as he announced his withdrawal from the Davis Cup Finals in Italy due to a hamstring injury on Tuesday.
Doctors have advised him to step back from competition, he revealed.
“It breaks my heart to say that I won’t be able to represent Spain in Bologna for the Davis Cup,” Alcaraz stated on X. “I am dealing with an edema in my right hamstring, and the medical advice is to refrain from playing.”
The injury occurred during last week’s ATP Finals, where he was diagnosed with muscle overload and swelling.
Alcaraz mentioned he is returning home with a “heavy heart.”
“Representing Spain has always been my greatest honor, and I was looking forward to contributing to our Davis Cup campaign,” he shared.
Since making his Davis Cup debut in 2022, Alcaraz boasts an impressive 6-2 record, with 5 wins in singles. Spain last lifted the trophy in 2019.
He also missed the 2023 Davis Cup due to fitness problems. Last year, Alcaraz and the Spanish team faced an early exit during the initial round of the Final 8 in Malaga, marking the final match of Rafael Nadal’s illustrious career.
At just 22, Alcaraz has expressed his desire to one day win the Davis Cup, emphasizing its importance to him as a significant tournament.
He was scheduled to lead Spain in Bologna on Thursday against the Czech Republic, seeded fourth, featuring top-20 players Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik, who previously eliminated the United States in the qualifying rounds.
This past Sunday, Alcaraz secured the year-end No. 1 ranking before falling to Jannik Sinner 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the ATP Finals. He also achieved this feat in 2022, becoming the youngest ever to finish at No. 1 at just 19.
Throughout the year, he triumphed at both the French Open and the U.S. Open, adding to his impressive total of six Grand Slam titles.
