Alcaraz Prioritizes Recovery, Withdraws from Rotterdam Open Amidst Dominant Start to 2025 Season
Following his historic victory at the Australian Open, world number one Carlos Alcaraz will delay his return to competition, opting to prioritize rest and recovery. The decision means he will not defend his title at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam next week.
The tournament organization reported that Alcaraz concluded he requires additional time to recuperate after a grueling two weeks in Melbourne. “The winner of the Australian Open has come to the conclusion that, after the effort made during the last two weeks, he needs more time to return to action,” a statement read.
Richard Krajicek, director of the Rotterdam tournament, expressed disappointment but understanding. “The Australian Open was long and hard for Carlos,” Krajicek noted on the competition’s website. “It is a great shame, both for him and for us, that his magnificent results there prevent him from participating in Rotterdam.”
Alcaraz himself confirmed the difficult decision, stating, “After consultation with my team, I had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the ABN AMRO Open. I need time to rest after the long series of matches in Australia. It is disappointing not to be able to return after my title last year. I had a great time last year in Rotterdam and I hope to return soon. I wish the fans and the organization a great week.”
The withdrawal will result in the loss of 500 ranking points earned at the 2024 Rotterdam Open, where he triumphed over Alex de Miñaur in the final. Last year, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, allowing for focused preparation for the Dutch tournament.
His competitive return is now scheduled for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in the third week of February, a tournament where he lost in the quarterfinals to Lehecka last year. This event will also mark the return of Jannik Sinner, who faced a brief suspension and subsequent three-month competition hiatus following his 2025 Australian Open win due to an accidental positive test at Indian Wells in 2024.
Sinner’s situation presents a strategic advantage in the race for the world number one ranking. He currently doesn’t have points to defend until his reappearance at the Masters 1000 in Rome, where he lost the final to Alcaraz. Currently, Alcaraz holds a lead of 13,650 points to Sinner’s 10,300, securing his top ranking at least through the Miami Masters 1000.
Beyond the 500 points in Rotterdam, Alcaraz will defend 100 points in Doha and 400 in Indian Wells, where he was defeated in the final last year by Draper. A strong performance in Miami, where he surprisingly lost in the first round to Goffin in 2025, will be crucial for maintaining his position atop the men’s game as the tour transitions to clay. .
