Carlos Alcaraz will not be available for Spain's Davis Cup team after he withdrew from the competition following his US Open loss. Veteran Albert Ramos will replace the 20-year-old world number one for the matches in Valencia between September 12-17.
The Spain team is currently going through an injury crisis as their star man, Rafael Nadal, is out along with Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut. Alcaraz, the 2023 US Open semifinalist, was the ace for the Spanish team, but it will now have to cope without him. The reason for Alcaraz’s unavailability is not known. Alcaraz joins this list of high-profile players, which also includes Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, who are withdrawing from the 2023 Davis Cup Finals.
“Ramos replaces Alcaraz in the Spanish MAPFRE Tennis Team that will play the Davis Cup in Valencia. Albert Ramos replaces Carlos Alcaraz in the Spanish MAPFRE Tennis Team that will compete in the Group Stage of the Davis Cup Finals this coming week in Valencia, from September 12 to 17,” the Spanish Tennis Federation said in a statement.
After the draw for the group stage of the 2023 Davis Cup Finals, fans were looking forward to the rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon finals between Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz. The same clash was expected to happen at the 2023 US Open final, but Alcaraz bowed out in the semifinals against Daniil Medvedev.
Spain is set to play their first tie at home in Valencia against the Czech Republic on September 13th, then play against Serbia on September 15th, and finish the group stage with a tie against the Republic of Korea on September 17th.