World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz will not compete at this week’s Monte Carlo Masters. Carlos injured the pronator teres in his right arm while preparing for the third Masters 1000 event of the season. He decided to skip the event, hoping to recover ahead of the title defense in Barcelona.
The Spaniard dropped out of the top-2 after 81 consecutive weeks. He still has a chance to return to the elite group if Jannik Sinner fails to achieve a deep run in the Principality. The Spaniard has played only one match in Monte Carlo, losing to Sebastian Korda 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 after a thriller in the second round two years ago.
Alcaraz has been dealing with injuries in the last couple of years, missing notable tournaments and failing to add more titles to his tally.
However, he is still among the most successful active players, lifting two Major trophies and five Masters 1000 shields, the most recent in Indian Wells a month ago.
The young Spaniard was in an excellent position to chase his second year-end no. 1 honor last year, standing at the top after conquering his second Major title at Wimbledon. However, Carlos lost an epic Cincinnati final to Novak Djokovic and failed to defend the US Open crown.
The young gun slowed down, finishing the season behind the Serb after missing the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals. The 20-year-old made a solid start to 2024, beating four rivals at the Australian Open and completing the quarter-final run at all four Majors.
Alcaraz battled against Alexander Zverev and made a terrible start. He recovered his game in the middle of the third set, stealing it but falling in the fourth to end his campaign. Carlos went to clay and lost his Buenos Aires title after falling to Nicolas Jarry in the semi-final.
The Spaniard experienced a setback at the ATP 500 event in Rio, twisting his ankle in the opening minutes against Thiago Monteiro and retiring. Carlos recovered by Indian Wells and played well to secure the title defense and his first ATP title since July last year!
Alcaraz served revenge to Zverev in the quarter-final, losing six points in his games and ousting the German 6-3, 6-1. Carlos met his closest rival Jannik Sinner in the semi-final and delivered the Italian’s first loss of the season!
Sinner made an impressive start before Alcaraz shifted into a higher gear and earned a much-needed 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph, booking a place in the title clash.
Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from Monte Carlo due to a right hand injury.
Carlos grabbed three breaks in sets two and three, welcoming Jannik’s mistakes and keeping his rival behind on the ATP ranking list.
The Spaniard faced Daniil Medvedev in the final and earned a 7-6, 6-1 win in an hour and 42 minutes, celebrating his fifth Masters 1000 title at 20! Medvedev grabbed an early break before Alcaraz took charge, overcoming the deficit and claiming a tight opener.
The young gun was the only player on the court in set number two, becoming the first defending champion in Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic. Carlos tamed his strokes nicely and forged the advantage in the shortest and mid-range exchanges.
Daniil broke in the second game of the encounter and denied break points in the next one.
Carlos erased the deficit with a forehand winner in game five and had a chance to move in front at 4-4.
Medvedev stayed focused and reached a tie break, climbing back from 2-5. The Spaniard clinched the final two points, wrapping up the set and gaining a boost. Carlos notched two return games in the second set and sealed the deal with a hold at 5-1, celebrating the title and hoping for more in Miami.
The Spaniard advanced into the last eight without issues after giving away 15 games in six sets. However, he could not repeat that level versus Grigor Dimitrov, with the Bulgarian claiming a one-sided 6-2, 6-4 win. Jannik Sinner grabbed the trophy and passed Alcaraz on the ATP ranking list, sending the Spaniard out of the top-2 for the first time since September 2022.
Carlos struggled to match Grigor’s pace and impose his strokes, losing almost half of the points in his games and getting broken four times. Dimitrov delivered aggressive tennis and saved four out of five break points, keeping the pressure on the other side.
Grigor started the encounter with a break in game two and saved break chances in the next one for 3-0. The more experienced player earned another break in game eight after a backhand winner, hoping for more in set number two.
The Bulgarian landed a forehand return winner in the fourth game and held at love a few minutes later for a comfortable advantage. Carlos made a push in the middle of the set, denying a break point in game six and breaking back in the next one.
Dimitrov held for 5-4 and created two match points in game ten with a forehand down the line winner. He seized the first after Alcaraz’s forehand mistake, sending the young gun out of the competition. Carlos will not challenge Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner in Monte Carlo this week, and we should see him in action in Barcelona if he recovers in time.
