World number one Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from this week’s Shanghai Masters due to “physical issues,” shortly after clinching the Japan Open title in Tokyo.The 22-year-old Spaniard had injured his ankle during his opening match in Tokyo but went on to defeat American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final on Tuesday. Despite the pain, Alcaraz managed to lift his eighth title of the season.Hours after his victory, Alcaraz took to Instagram to explain his decision to pull out of Shanghai. “I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year! Unfortunately I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover,” he wrote.
Carlos Alcaraz on Instagram
The US Open champion expressed his disappointment at missing out on the tournament and interacting with fans in China. “I was really looking forward to playing in front of the amazing fans in Shanghai again. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year!” Alcaraz added.Alcaraz sustained the ankle injury last week while chasing a shot, falling to the court and remaining seated for around five minutes. Despite the setback, he returned to the court with heavy strapping on the ankle and admitted that the injury was on his mind throughout the tournament.
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“The start of the week was not really good with the ankle, and the way that I came back from that, playing a great tournament and great matches, I’m just really happy about it,” he said after the final.Alcaraz’s decision to skip the Shanghai Masters shows his focus on recovery after a grueling season that saw him win his first US Open title and accumulate eight trophies. The Spaniard will now prioritize rest and rehabilitation to ensure he returns fit for upcoming events.
