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Alcaraz withdraws from Barcelona ATP, Sinner remains No. 1

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Wrist injury halts Spaniard’s campaign and ends his bid to retake the top ranking

Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Barcelona ATP tournament with a wrist injury, a setback that leaves Jannik Sinner firmly in place as world No. 1.

The Spaniard, ranked No. 2, was still in contention for the top spot but needed to win the tournament to overtake Sinner. His withdrawal, announced before the round of 16, removes that possibility and is expected to cost him further points in the standings.

Speaking to reporters, Alcaraz said the problem emerged during his previous match, a straight-sets win over Otto Virtanen. What initially felt like manageable discomfort in the wrist worsened progressively, leading to a diagnosis more serious than first anticipated. “It’s not easy to stop, but I can’t continue,” he said.

The timing of the injury carries immediate ranking implications. Sinner’s title run in Monte Carlo lifted him to 13,350 points, while Alcaraz left the Principality on 13,240. Without the chance to add points in Barcelona, projections indicate the gap will widen, with the Spaniard expected to drop to 12,960.

Uncertainty now surrounds Alcaraz’s schedule on clay. The Madrid Masters 1000, starting April 22, is in doubt, although his absence would not affect his ranking, having skipped the event last year due to a leg issue.

Attention then shifts to Rome, where the Italian Open begins on May 6. Alcaraz is the defending champion at the Foro Italico after beating Sinner in last year’s final, played shortly after the Italian returned from a three-month suspension linked to the Clostebol case.

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