ROTTERDAM/STARNBERG, February 2, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion of the ABN AMRO Open, will not defend his title at the tournament, which begins this Saturday. The Australian Open winner has decided he needs more time to recover after the intense past two weeks of competition.

Alcaraz reached this decision the morning after his victory in Melbourne. “After consulting with my team, I had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the ABN AMRO Open. I need time to recover after the long series in Australia. It’s disappointing not to be able to return after winning the title last year. I had a great time in Rotterdam last year and hope to return soon. I wish the fans and the organizers a fantastic week,” he said.

Tournament director Richard Krajicek reacted with understanding: “The Australian Open was long and tough for Carlos. It is a shame for both him and us that his fantastic result is preventing him from participating in Rotterdam.”

With Alcaraz’s withdrawal, Alexander Zverev becomes the new top seed at the ABN AMRO Open. The 28-year-old world number four will face strong competition from players such as Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, and Jack Draper. Former champions Daniil Medvedev and Stan Wawrinka are also set to compete in Rotterdam.

Krajicek added, “A key reason for choosing a broad field with many top players is the risk of withdrawals. We are convinced that with the players present, we will have a fantastic week of tennis.”

Alcaraz’s place in the draw will be taken by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the first reserve on the entry list.