World number one Carlos Alcaraz to miss the Australian Open after a leg injury

"When I was in my best moment of the pre-season, I got injured in a fortuitous and forced gesture while training, this time in the semimembranosus muscle of my right leg," Alcaraz said, specifying his injury is in a muscle in his thigh.

"I had worked very hard to get to my best level for Australia... Unfortunately I won't be able to play neither the Care A2+ Kooyong nor the Australian Open. It's a tough moment, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024."

After topping the ATP rankings in 2022, the young Spaniard faced injury problems. At the Paris Masters, he had to retire in the quarter-final match against Holger Rune, later explaining he suffered an abdominal tear and required six weeks off. He missed the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals before coming back in an exhibition in the United Arab Emirates in December. He lost to both Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud at the event.

With Alcaraz out, his countryman and defending champion Rafael Nadal will be the highest ranked player at the Australian Open.