Alcaraz withdraws from the 2026 Australian Open title defense

Carlos Alcaraz is set to forfeit a considerable amount of points following this firm decision.

Carlos Alcaraz is currently enjoying a period of rest after making history at the 2026 Australian Open. The Spanish player defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling four-set final on February 1st, securing his seventh Grand Slam singles title and becoming the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam collection.

Following this milestone victory, Alcaraz decided not to participate in the 2026 ATP 500 ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, where he is the reigning champion. The tournament organizers announced on February 2nd: "Alcaraz has concluded that after two weeks of intense effort in Melbourne, he needs additional time to recover before returning to competition."

Last year in Rotterdam, Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur in the final to claim his first ATP 500 title of the season, which was also his first career title on indoor hard courts. That victory made Carlitos the first Spanish player to win this prestigious tournament.

This year's ABN AMRO Open will start on February 9th, featuring many top-ranked players such as Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Alex de Minaur, promising exciting matches despite the absence of the defending champion, who will lose 500 ATP points due to his decision.

This week, most top players are taking a break following a series of intense matches at Melbourne Park. The spotlight will turn to the 2026 Open Occitanie — an ATP 250 event held on indoor hard courts in Montpellier, France. This tournament is notable for its unique pink-colored area outside the playing courts.

Some notable participants in this ATP 250 event include Hubert Hurkacz, Stan Wawrinka, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ugo Humbert, and the promising 16-year-old home player Moise Kouame.