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World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will not chase 500 ATP points in Basel next week. Carlos withdrew due to the plantar fascia in his left foot and muscle fatigue in his lower back, taking more time off the court and hoping to prepare for Paris and Turin.
Thus, the Spaniard remains 500 ATP points behind Novak Djokovic in the ATP Race, probably sealing his fate in the year-end no. 1 battle. Alcaraz debuted in Basel last year, winning three matches before falling to Felix Auge-Aliassime in the semi-final in an hour and 22 minutes.
World no. 2 has experienced five losses since lifting his second Major crown at Wimbledon, failing to win the title and remaining on the season-high six. Alcaraz had a chance to pass Novak Djokovic in the ATP Race during the Chinese swing.
Instead, the young Spaniard left Beijing and Shanghai with a modest 270 ATP points on his tally, earning only five wins and missing an opportunity to improve his year-end no. 1 chances. Without Basel, Carlos will have to overpower Novak in Paris and Turin, which is an unlikely scenario in the current constellation.
Competing for the first time since the US Open, Alcaraz fell to Jannik Sinner in the Beijing semi-final, losing ground in the second set. The young gun experienced an early Shanghai Masters loss to Grigor Dimitrov, missing a chance to fight for 1000 ATP points and the ATP Race lead.
Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the ATP 500 event in Basel.
The Bulgarian ousted the Spaniard 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and ten minutes. Alcaraz played well in the opening set's final stage, stealing it but losing ground in sets two and three.
Grigor served well and kept the pressure on the other side, earning four breaks from five opportunities and celebrating a rare top-2 triumph. Carlos played better in the opener thanks to a rock-solid performance in the closing stages.
However, he faded from the court in the second set and got broken at 1-1 in the third. Dimitrov served well and emerged at the top with a hold at 30 in game ten. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Basel this year!
I have a problem with the plantar fascia in my left foot and muscle fatigue in my lower back. I need treatment so I can play the rest of the season. I hope to see you all soon!" Carlos Alcaraz said.