The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation recently confirmed that Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the nation’s Davis Cup squad. He reportedly decided after his semi-final loss against Daniil Medvedev at the 2023 US Open. Spain captain David Ferrer remarked that it was unfortunate to see Alcaraz pull out, given how many fans would have purchased tickets to see him play.
Ferrer admitted he understood the reasons behind Alcaraz’s withdrawal. He said having been a player as well, he knew the physical stress tennis puts on an athlete. The former World No.3 also revealed the exact moment when the young player informed him of his absence.
David Ferrer talks about Alcaraz’s absence from Spain Davis Cup team
Spain is placed in Group C alongside Serbia, Czechia, and South Korea. The action got underway on Tuesday as Serbia defeated South Korea 3-0. Then, Ferrer’s men will take to the court on Wednesday, September 13, against Czechia to kick off their campaign.
All matches for this group will be played in Valencia, Spain. The top two from each group qualify for the final in November. Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the group stage but there is no word on his participation in the Final 8.
Speaking to Punto de Break, Ferrer admitted Alcaraz is a big absence. He disclosed that he had a talk with the player and his coach and the World No.2 was understandably exhausted after a long Slam season. He empathized with Alcaraz, saying he, as a former player, knew the physical toll of the sport.
“Obviously, the case of Carlos (Alcaraz) is a very important loss, but this has happened for other reasons. I have a lot of trust with his coach, we talked about it, each one put his point of view and that’s it. I understand that he ended up tired, I have also been a player, I know what it is like to go through physical problems.”
Ferrer mentioned the fans who would have bought tickets hoping to see Alcaraz. He, however, said no player can be guaranteed to appear given the tight schedules. He added that he understood the sentiments of the fans as well as the player, calling their feelings ‘normal’.
“Many people will have bought tickets with the hope of seeing Carlos, but tennis has such a tight schedule that no one can guarantee you anything. It’s normal for people to ask themselves that question and it’s normal for Carlos to want to take a break, I understand both sides.”
Alcaraz’s withdrawal hit the headlines soon after his US Open semi-final loss. He has had a hectic 2023 after returning from injury, so he chose to take a break. With a few high-stakes tournaments yet to come, he will look to recover and come back soon in full flow.
Ferrer reveals when Carlos Alcaraz informed him of his withdrawal
Ferrer further revealed when Alcaraz informed him of his decision to not participate in the Davis Cup. He said that he was in contact with the 20-year-old throughout the US Open and he knew that the youngster was mentally fatigued. The captain said Alcaraz called him 30 minutes after his semi-final defeat and told him about his decision.
“I was in contact with him and his team throughout the tournament, I knew he was mentally tired, so we saw how he was getting into the weekend. At the end of the match with Medvedev, half an hour later, we called each other by phone and he told me.”
Spain replaced Alcaraz with 35-year-old veteran Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Regardless of the former’s absence, the Iberian country will still likely qualify for the Final 8. However, fans will be robbed of another potential Alcaraz – Novak Djokovic match as the former is included in the Serbia squad. Ferrer, too, would have liked to send his best player against the World No.1, but the wait for that iconic clash stretches on.
