Carlos Alcaraz set for exhibition match following China Open tournament

The 20-year-old has not played a competitive match since his US Open semi-final defeat to Daniil Medvedev earlier this month. 

However, the Spaniard joins a list of stars who will battle for the ATP 500 title at the China Open this week, which returns following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Alcaraz also missed out on Davis Cup participation following Spain's early exit from the tournament, with many linking the world number two's absence from his nation's camp as the main reason for not making the Davis Cup Finals.

The two-time Grand Slam title winner is expected to compete in Beijing later this week at the ATP 500 tournament before heading to Mexico to face American Tommy Paul in an eagerly anticipated exhibition clash. 

According to reports, huge attendance is expected for the exhibition due to Alcaraz's popularity in Latin America.

The clash will be hosted in the world's largest bullring Mexico City's Plaza de Toros Monumental de México, the same venue where Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud did battle last year in front of 40,000 spectators.

The exhibition match will also be a doubleheader since honorary Mexican Maria Sakkari will also face tennis legend Caroline Wozniacki in a WTA match.

Alcaraz is expected to announce more exhibition matches and would be wary of managing his workload during the off-season following Casper Ruud's claims that his exhibition tour with Rafael Nadal last year affected his performance at the start of 2023.

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