Carlos Alcaraz sent a message to his fans and the organizers of the ABN AMRO Open after announcing he will not compete in the ATP 500 event this year. As he won the Rotterdam Open last year, the withdrawal means that he will lose 500 points when the rankings are next updated.
Alcaraz has decided to take an extended break following his Australian Open triumph. The Spaniard made history with his win at Melbourne Park, becoming the youngest male to complete the career Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz Announces ABN AMRO Open Withdrawal
Alcaraz was expected to return to the Rotterdam Open in a bid to defend his title this year. However, the 22-year-old has now announced that he will not be taking part in the tournament.
Alcaraz cited the need to recover after an exhausting Australian Open campaign as the reason for his withdrawal. The Spaniard played a grueling five-set encounter against Alexander Zverev in the semifinals before defeating Novak Djokovic in four sets in the final.
“After consulting with my team, I had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the ABN AMRO Open. I need time to recover after the long series in Australia. It’s disappointing not to be able to return after winning the title last year. I had a great time in Rotterdam last year and hope to return soon. I wish the fans and the organizers a fantastic week,” he said via the tournament’s organizers.
Alcaraz’s absence means that Zverev will be the top seed at the ABN AMRO Open in the Netherlands. The German will face tough competition from the likes of Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Daniil Medvedev at the ATP 500 tournament.
Replacing Alcaraz at the tournament will be Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Rotterdam Open will take place from February 9-15.
How Will Rotterdam Open Withdrawal Impact Carlos Alcaraz’s Ranking?
Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the Rotterdam Open means that the World No. 1 will lose 500 ranking points when the PIF ATP Rankings are next updated. However, he leads World No. 2 Jannik Sinner by more than 3000 points and will retain his ranking.
The triumph at the 2026 Australian Open meant that Alcaraz received 1600 points, while Sinner had 1200 points deducted from his tally after failing to successfully defend his title. The Italian was beaten by Djokovic in the semifinals.
MORE: 4 Historic Carlos Alcaraz Achievements After Record-Breaking Australian Open Win
Djokovic rose to World No. 3 following his run to the final at the Australian Open. Zverev is now ranked fourth, with Lorenzo Musetti completing the top five. Alex de Minaur remains sixth, Taylor Fritz is up two spots to seventh, while Auger-Aliassime is eighth, Ben Shelton is ninth, and Alexander Bublik remains 10th.
