Alcaraz agony: Spaniard withdraws from Rome

The injury-marred season of Carlos Alcaraz jumped from bad to worse on Friday as the unfit Spaniard withdrew from Wednesday’s start of the Rome Masters.

The former No. 1 whose world No. 3 ranking is due for a massive slide, said on social media that he played the Madrid event with the same right forearm pain which has bothered him for weeks and has left him with just four spring matches on clay.

“I felt pain after playing in Madrid, discomfort in my arm,” the player who turns 21 on Sunday posted.

“Today I had some tests and I have muscle edema in the pronator teres (a forearm muscle) a consequence of my last injury.

“Unfortunately I won’t be able to play in Rome. I need rest to recover and be able to play 100 per cent pain-free.”

Alcaraz was unable to play in Monte Carlo and at home in Barcelona last month due to his continuing fitness problems.

He exited Madrid two days ago, losing a quarter-final to Andrey Rublev.

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz played Madrid with his right arm in a sleeve – by ISF Ltd