Alcaraz to begin season in February in Buenos Aires on clay

After pulling out of the Australian Open due to injury, world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz revealed that he will kick off his season off by playing in Buenos Aires for the first time

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain Image Credit: AI/ Reuters/ Panoramic

Jérémy Baudu

January 12, 2023

The tennis world will have to wait for about a month before it can get a first glimpse of world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz on the 2023 tour. The Spaniard, who withdrew from the Australian Open due to a right leg injury, is expected to return to competition in February at the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires. The Spaniard, who could lose the top ranking at the end of the first Grand Slam of the season, posted a message on the official Twitter account of the Argentine tournament.

“Hi everyone, this is Carlos Alcaraz. I wanted to announce that I will be playing the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires in February. I can’t wait to discover this country and this city. I hope many of you will come and see me play. See you soon!!”

🤯🤯🤯

¡CARLOS ALCARAZ 🇪🇸 JUGARÁ EL #ArgOpen2023! 🏆

¡EL NÚMERO 1️⃣ DEL RANKING ATP JUGARÁ EN ARGENTINA! 🇦🇷

El español de 19 años participará por primera vez de nuestro torneo 🥳

¡Te esperamos, @carlosalcaraz! 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/xx6OPejYhw
— IEB+ Argentina Open (@ArgentinaOpen) January 11, 2023

This is the first time in his career that the Spaniard will play the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires (11-19 February 2023). If all goes well, Alcaraz will continue his season with the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janerio, where he is the defending champion, before going to Acapulco and then playing the first two Masters 1000 of the season in Indian Wells and Miami.

Ferrero, the coach of Alcaraz, won in Buenos Aires in 2010

Carlos Alcaraz will try to follow in the footsteps of his current coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, who won the Buenos Aires tournament in 2010. The Spaniard posted his goals for 2023 in the statement published on the official website of the Argentine tournament on Wednesday.

“My desire is to try to maintain the level of 2022 and continue to improve, both tennis and mentally. I know it won’t be easy, but I like challenges and hope I’m ready.”

For his part, Martín Jaite, director of the ATP 250 tournament in Buenos Aires also reacted to the arrival of the Spaniard in February, alongside Diego Schwartzman, Dominic Thiem and Cameron Norrie. “It is an honour and great news for Argentine sport to see Carlos Alcaraz, world No. 1, participate in our tournament. The 2023 edition will be unmissable.”