Carlos Alcaraz out of Swiss Indoors event in Basel with injury

Updated 18/10/2023 at 21:46 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz has been replaced in the main draw for the Swiss Indoors event in Basel by Stan Wawrinka after the Spaniard pulled out with injuries to his left foot and his glute. Alcaraz had hoped to mount a late challenge on Novak Djokovic to reclaim the world No. 1 spot at the end of the year but those hopes have been dashed. The tournament in Basel gets underway on October 21.

Alcaraz says he has 'lost a lot of opportunities' to return to No. 1 after Dimitrov loss

Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed he has pulled out of the Swiss Indoors event in Basel through injury.

The Spaniard announced his intention to play in the event for the second year in a row after losing to Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters, but has had to withdraw due to a back issue and after developing a problem with the plantar fascia on his left foot.

Tournament organisers confirmed Stan Wawrinka would replace Alcaraz in the main draw.

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"Unfortunately I will not be able to play in Basel this year!" Alcaraz wrote on social media. "I have a problem with the plantar fascia in my left foot and muscle fatigue in my lower back which need treatment so I can play the rest of the season.

"I hope to see you all soon!"

It's another setback in Alcaraz's bid to overtake Novak Djokovic in the rankings and end the season as the world No. 1.

The 20-year-old was left to rue "lost opportunities” in the rankings battle after his loss to Dimitrov in China.

That performance brought his Asian Swing to a disappointing end, following his earlier defeat at the hands of Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz hasn’t won a tournament since he got the better of Djokovic in an epic five-set final at Wimbledon.

The Serbian got his revenge at the Cincinnati Masters before going on to win the US Open after Alcaraz was put out in the semi-finals by Daniil Medvedev.

Alcaraz trails Djokovic by 2,240 points in the ATP Rankings and is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

The next tournament on the schedule after Basel is the Paris Masters, which is an ATP 1000 event.

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