TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a forehand shot during the Men’s Singles Final against Jannik Sinner of Italy on day eight of the Nitto ATP Finals 2025 at Inalpi Arena on November 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
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Carlos Alcaraz has won six Grand Slam singles titles and is ranked No. 1 in the world, but he has never led Spain to the Davis Cup title.
The 22-year-old won’t do it this year, either.
The Spanish star announced Tuesday he must withdraw from the Davis Cup finals in Italy because of a hamstring injury. He said the decision was recommended by doctors.
“I’m so sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play for Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna,” Alcaraz posted to X. “I have an edema in my right hamstring and the medical recommendation is not to compete.”
Alcaraz is still slated to play an exhibition in Newark, N.J. – “A Racquet at the Rock ” – on Dec. 7 against American Frances Tiafoe.
He was injured during last week’s ATP Finals and was diagnosed with muscle overload and swelling of his right hamstring. He wore a wrap on his right leg during his 7-6(4), 7-5 finals loss to world No. 2 Jannik Sinner on Sunday. The Italian won $5 million with the title.
“I’ve always said that playing for Spain is the greatest thing there is, and I was really looking forward to helping us fight for the Davis Cup,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz made his Davis Cup debut in 2022 and has a 6-2 overall record, 5-1 in singles. Spain’s last triumph was in 2019.
He also didn’t play in the 2023 Davis Cup because of fitness issues. Last year, Alcaraz and Spain were eliminated in the opening round of the Final 8 at home in Malaga, spoiling the final match of Rafael Nadal’s storied career.
Alcaraz has said he wants “to win the Davis Cup one day … because for me, it’s a really important, important tournament.”
He was set to lead Spain in Bologna on Thursday against the No. 4-seeded Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. The Czechs include top-20 players Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik. They eliminated the United States in the qualifying round in September.
This year he won the French Open and US Open.
(The AP contributed reporting)