Third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz has announced that he is withdrawing from the Italian Open because of the right forearm injury that already prompted him to pull out of tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

"I need to rest so I can recover and play 100% pain-free," Alcaraz said in a statement posted to social media.

World No 2 Jannik Sinner was forced to withdraw from Madrid with a right hip injury, while world No 3 Alcaraz has pulled out of the Italian Open, which begins in Rome next week. The world No 4 Daniil Medvedev also has to be a doubt to defend the title he won last year, as he battles a groin issue.

World number two Jannik Sinner will not participate in what would have been a home tournament in Rome, in what is sure to be a disappointment to the Italian fans

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Italian Open due to an arm injury and is now in a race to be fit for the French Open, which starts on May 26.