Alcaraz to Skip Rotterdam After Australian Open Triumph

Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his title at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam after his breakthrough at the Australian Open. The tournament said Alcaraz “concluded that after his exertions over the past two weeks, he needs more time to return to action.”

Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in four sets to claim his seventh Grand Slam singles title and became the youngest man to complete the boxed set of career major victories. He is the reigning champion in Rotterdam after last year’s final victory over Alex de Minaur at the ATP 500 event. That win was the first of what became eight trophies for Alcaraz that season, his first career title on indoor hard courts and the first time a Spaniard won the tournament.

The ATP 500 field in Rotterdam is led by top 10 players Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur. The event begins on Feb. 9. With Alcaraz withdrawing, the draw will proceed without its defending champion.

Following his Australian Open victory, Alcaraz participated in the traditional champion’s photo session, taking the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for a tour around Melbourne on Monday. The shoot took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in the city center. Dressed in all-black, the world No. 1 reportedly wore loafers with no socks after playing nearly nine hours of tennis over the final two rounds and enjoying a post-victory celebration.

Australian media reports said Alcaraz celebrated with family in his hotel suite, ordering pizza, beer and champagne. In his victorious post-final press conference, he reflected on the demands of the tour and the need to appreciate the moment:

“I’m going to say tennis really beautiful, but what the bad part of tennis, it is we have tournaments week after week after week, and sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve been doing lately, because you know, once you finish tournament, you got to be prepared or your mind is about, you know, going to the next tournament,” he said.

“So sometimes you don’t stop yourself and think about what you’re doing. What I’ve learned this year is about appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you’re living. Not only lifting the trophies, but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting loses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you’re living.”