Carlos Alcaraz is currently basking in the glory of having completed the Career Grand Slam in Melbourne.
Alcaraz became the youngest player to achieve the feat in tennis history after defeating Djokovic, while also matching a record held by Bjorn Borg.
Alcaraz, who has now equalled John McEnroe’s Grand Slam total, beat the 10-time Australian Open champion 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena.
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
After winning in Australia, Alcaraz had been expected to travel to The Netherlands to take part in the Rotterdam Open.
However, the Spaniard has now made a pertinent scheduling decision.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Rotterdam Open
On Monday, Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the Rotterdam Open was announced.
In a post on Instagram, a spokesman for the tournament said: “Carlos Alcaraz won’t defend his title in Rotterdam.
“The Australian Open champion concluded that after his exertions over the past two weeks, he needs more time to return to action.
“We wish Carlos a swift recovery.”
The Spaniard was the defending champion in Rotterdam, having defeated Alex de Minaur in last year’s final.
Alcaraz, who has made no secret of his desire to see the Tour schedule reduced, has made a smart decision by withdrawing from the Dutch event.
The Spaniard has had a busy start to the year: participating in an exhibition event in South Korea before winning the title in Australia.
Alcaraz’s schedule management will be a crucial factor in determining his success on the Tour this year, and he has most certainly managed his schedule well in this respect.
By withdrawing from Rotterdam, Alcaraz’s risk of injury and fatigue reduces, as do his chances of winning bigger events in the Spring, such as Indian Wells and the Italian Open.
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Who else is competing in Rotterdam?
A number of high-profile players are set to compete at the Rotterdam Open, which is set to take place from February 9 to 15.
Alex de Minaur, Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Bublik are all set to compete; as is Jack Draper, who will play only his second event since September 2025.
Karen Khachanov, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Fils – who is also returning from an extended period on the sidelines – are also set to compete at the event.
Alexander Zverev will be the top seed, as he is ranked fourth on the ATP Tour.
