Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from 2023 Australian Open due to leg injury, Rafael Nadal current top seed

Updated 07/01/2023 at 12:09 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz will not have the chance to go for back-to-back Grand Slam titles as he has withdrawn from the 2023 Australian Open because of injury. Alcaraz, 19, has not played competitively since suffering an abdominal injury in early November. He suffered another injury setback in off-season training and has confirmed that he will not play in Melbourne this month.

Best shots from from year-end No. 1 Alcaraz in 2022

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open due to injury.

The US Open champion hasn’t played competitively since November 4, when he suffered an abdominal injury at the Paris Masters.

He was hoping to recover in time for the first Grand Slam of the new season but suffered a further setback with an off-season hamstring injury.

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“When I was at my best in preseason I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training,” he wrote on Twitter.

“This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg.

“I'd worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won't be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong [exhibition event] or the Australian Open.

“It's tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024 Australian Open.”

Alcaraz’s injury setback means since becoming world No. 1 after the US Open he has missed the following two biggest tournaments – the Nitto ATP Finals and the Australian Open.

His withdrawal has significant implications on the men’s draw.

As it stands defending champion and world No. 2 Rafael Nadal will move up to become the top seed.

World No. 3 Casper Ruud will be the second seed and world No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas moves up to third seed.

Nine-time champion Novak Djokovic becomes the fourth seed after Alcaraz’s absence which means he won’t face Nadal, Ruud or Tsitsipas until the semi-finals.

Furthermore, Ruud, Tsitsipas and Djokovic all have a chance to replace Alcaraz as world No. 1 after the Australian Open.

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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

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