Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, number 1 in the world, announced this Tuesday (18) that he will not compete in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup in Bologna, Italy, due to physical discomfort that, if it worsens, could compromise the start of the next season.
“I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to play for Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna… I have edema on the back of my right thigh and the medical recommendation is not to compete”, wrote the player from Murcia on the social network X, two days after losing the ATP Finals decision to Jannik Sinner, number 2 in the ranking.
The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation confirmed the news in a statement, which means that the Spanish team, captained by David Ferrer, will face the final phase of the competition, which for the Spanish begins on Thursday (20) against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, with four players: Jaume Munar, Pedro Martínez, Pablo Carreño and Marcel Granollers.
Alejandro Davidovich (world number 14) will also be absent from the Spanish team. He has just completed the best season of his career, and captain David Ferrer criticized his last-minute withdrawal in the second round of qualifying.
Australian Open as a big goal
Alcaraz’s absence represents the end of a brilliant season, in which the 22-year-old tennis player (he will turn 23 in May) won a total of eight titles, including two Grand Slams (Roland Garros and US Open), in addition to returning to the top after a magnificent dispute with Sinner.
This Tuesday he will travel to Murcia from Bologna, where the exams were carried out, and will rest before resuming training in December.
Alcaraz’s absence should also be interpreted as a precautionary measure, as any injury could hamper his preparation for the Australian Open, the only Grand Slam title missing from the El Palmar-born tennis player’s resume, which begins on January 12.
In a recent interview with Spanish radio Cadena Cope, Alcaraz admitted that Australia is his main goal for 2026 and that it would allow him to become the youngest player to win all four Grand Slam titles, surpassing his compatriot Rafael Nadal, who achieved this feat at 24 years and 101 days.
In September 2022, after winning his first Grand Slam (US Open), Alcaraz became the youngest number one in the world in the ATP rankings since its creation in 1973.
According to the Spanish press, thigh edema is a precursor to more serious injuries, as it involves an abnormal accumulation of fluid within the muscle, caused by injury, excessive use or micro-injuries.
A decaffeinated Davis
Alcaraz’s absence is a big blow for the Davis Cup organizers, who no longer have the two best players in Italy (Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, number 9 in the ranking) for this first edition of the finals on Italian soil, after years of being played in Malaga.
The absence of these two tennis stars eliminates the theoretical favoritism of the Italians and Spaniards and opens up possibilities for any of the eight classified teams.
The highest ranked player, and the only member of the Top 10, will be world number 3, Alexander Zverev.
In the search for the seventh Davis Cup title, the Spanish team needs to defeat the Czech Republic this Thursday, led by Jiri Lehecka (nº 17), Jakub Mensik (nº 19) and Tomas Machac (nº 32).
The winner will face Argentina or Germany in the semifinals, on Saturday (22).
