Alcaraz withdraws in Monte Carlo ahead of match with Auger-Aliassime

MONACO (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters tournament on Tuesday because of a muscle injury to his right forearm.

The Wimbledon champion was scheduled to play Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round in only his second appearance at the tournament, after also pulling out last year with an injury.

Auger-Aliassime instead faces lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego of Italy.

Alcaraz had been doing low-key training with strapping to his arm.

“I have been working in Monte Carlo and trying to recover until the last minute from an injured pronator teres in my right arm, but it was not possible and I cannot play,” Alcaraz wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I was really looking forward to playing. ... See you next year.”

The 20-year-old Spaniard reached the French Open semifinals last year, losing to Novak Djokovic, before beating him in the Wimbledon final.

After winning six titles last year, Alcaraz's only trophy so far this year was when he defended his title at Indian Wells, again beating former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Alcaraz defeated Auger-Aliassime in both Indian Wells title runs after the Canadian won the first three meetings between the players.

Auger-Aliassime has a 2-1 record against Sonego.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis