Injured Alcaraz withdraws from Monte Carlo Masters

"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," he wrote on X.

The 20-year-old Spaniard, whose last match came in the straight sets defeat by Grigor Dimitrov in Miami last month, was due to go straight into Wednesday's second round in Monte Carlo against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

He will be replaced in the draw by Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who was drafted in as a lucky loser, the ATP announced.

"I was really looking forward to playing... See you next year!" concluded former world no. 1 and two-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz, who has yet to win a single match at the Monte Carlo Masters.

In 2022, he arrived exhausted after his successful American tour -- he reached the semi-final in Indian Wells and won in Miami -- and lost his opener to American Sebastian Korda in three sets.

Last year, he withdrew just before the start of the tournament.

This time, Alcaraz waited until the third day to announce his withdrawal, which seemed inevitable given his recent training sessions, looking weak on Sunday and Monday when he did not play a single rally.

His withdrawal through injury follows on from that of Rafael Nadal last week, though Spanish media reported on Tuesday 11-time Monte Carlo winner Nadal is expected to travel to Barcelona in a bid to make his comeback at next week's Barcelona Open.

The 37-year-old missed virtually all of the 2023 season through injury and has only played at the Brisbane International this season, missing the start of the clay court season in what could be his final year on tour as he seeks to win a record 15th French Open title.

Alcaraz now also faces a race against the clock in order to be fit for the Barcelona Open, where he will be aiming to make it three wins in three on the Catalan clay.