Carlos Alcaraz is back on the tennis courts, with no time to rest. The Spaniard competed in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Sunday and made a competitive return on Pista Rafa Nadal in Barcelona on Tuesday.
Although the 6-4, 6-2 score against Otto Virtanen suggests a straightforward victory for the Spaniard, it was anything but. Alcaraz struggled with his form and appeared to injure himself at one point.
Carlos Alcaraz Opens Up About Barcelona Open Injury
After his 7-6(5), 6-3 loss to Jannik Sinner in Monte-Carlo, Alcaraz, a two-time Barcelona Open champion, opened his campaign against No. 130-ranked qualifier Virtanen in the first round on Tuesday. Virtanen gave the World No. 2 a run for his money in the opening set, establishing a 4-4 starting score.
At this stage, Alcaraz, who served for a 5-4 lead, requested a medical timeout during the changeover. He was reportedly heard telling the physio that he experienced sharp pain in his right forearm every time he hit a forehand. After receiving a massage on his wrist, the Spaniard assured that he could play well.
😳 Alcaraz is receiving a medical timeout, says – every time he hits a forehand – there’s a sharp pain in his forearm pic.twitter.com/tT3CYzAk2m
— Olly Tennis 🎾 🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) April 14, 2026
During his post-match press conference, Alcaraz shed light on the physical discomfort while highlighting his packed schedule.
“The first tournament on clay, in Monte-Carlo, reaching the final. Clay is one of the most demanding surfaces, and now with travel and different conditions, it’s very difficult to adapt,” he said.
“I had my first training session this morning and immediately went out to compete. Little things keep popping up in my body; my team and I will see what’s wrong. I hope it’s nothing serious. I’ve felt this way before, but it never got any worse; it’s never led to anything major,” Alcaraz assured.
The Spaniard also explained why he chose to compete in Barcelona rather than rest for the upcoming Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome.
“This week is when I should have been resting, but Barcelona is a very special place for me. If my body allows it, I’ll come whenever we can to enjoy the support of the fans. Since we have a tournament in Barcelona, I hope we can come and make my people happy,” he said.
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Alcaraz enjoyed support from his home crowd, who actively cheered him on during his first round struggles. The Spaniard will hope for a similar atmosphere in his next match against a tricky opponent, Tomáš Macháč. The players are leveled 1-1 in their head-to-head, although Alcaraz has yet to get a clean win against the Czech.
In their 2024 Davis Cup contest, Macháč, who won the first set, retired after losing the second. Meanwhile, he beat the Spaniard in straight sets in their next meeting in Shanghai just weeks later. The Czech enters the Barcelona Open as the only player to take a set off Jannik Sinner in Monte-Carlo. In his first match at the ATP 500 event, he beat claycourt specialist Sebastian Baez, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
