Last week's Stuttgart Open saw Jabeur advance to the final four, but she withdrew with a 3-0 deficit from her semifinal match.
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Ons Jabeur, who won the Madrid Open last year and became the first African-Arab WTA 1000 champion in history, is unable to defend her title this year. Due to a left calf injury, the World No.4 player from Tunisia withdrew from the competition on Monday. Last week’s Stuttgart Open saw Jabeur advance to the final four, but she withdrew with a 3-0 deficit from her semifinal match against World No. 1 Iga Swiatek due to an injured left calf.
Prior to her withdrawal, Jabeur was seeded fourth in the Madrid main draw. Jabeur’s place in the draw as the No.33 seed will be taken by Shelby Rogers of the United States, who was previously the highest-ranked unseeded player. Rogers will be replaced in the draw by a qualifier or lucky loser. Jabeur has suffered a second injury this season. Jabeur missed the entire Middle East swing in February after having minor knee surgery after the Australian Open this year.
Read More – ATP Barcelona Open 2023: Carlos Alcaraz dominates Stefanos Tsitsipas to win home crown
Jabeur came back for the Sunshine Double and appeared to be herself again on clay. At the beginning of April, she won her fourth WTA singles title of her career on the hard court in Charleston. She then defeated Jelena Ostapenko and Beatriz Haddad Maia in Stuttgart before retiring in the semifinals. The Tunisian said, “a small tear in my calf and I will need more time to recover. I am sad to announce that I won’t be able to compete and defend my title this year at [Madrid.]”
In a championship match at the ATP 500, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to cap off an ideal week at the Barcelona Open. The home favourite dominated Pista Rafa Nadal, combining fierce ballstriking, deft forehand drop shots, and inspired defence to win 6-3, 6-4 and win his ninth tour-level title. Alcaraz defeated World No. 5 Tsitsipas in 79 minutes despite dropping serve in the third game of the match. Alcaraz displayed no signs of nervousness in front of his home crowd.
“It is incredible,” Alcaraz said. “To feel this energy and lift the trophy in Barcelona in front of my family and friends, and most members of my team are here as well. Playing this level and to lift the trophy in front of them is a good feeling for me.”
Alcaraz took control of the fifth all-Top 10 ATP Tour final of 2023 after Tsitsipas broke early for a 2-1 lead. In the second set, he continued to dazzle the home crowd with some exceptional shotmaking, and a lone break in the fifth game was enough to win the match and the title without dropping a set all week.
“Me and my team were talking before the match about staying relaxed,” said Alcaraz. “To want to play the tough moments. Staying relaxed is the most important part for me. To forget the mistakes, everything and be myself on court. Not to think about all the people watching, but just me, the court, the racquet and the final.”
