Carlos Alcaraz faced a fresh setback ahead of his Rotterdam Open debut.

Carlos Alcaraz is making his tournament debut in Rotterdam this week (Image: Getty)

Carlos Alcaraz has revealed that he faced a fresh setback following his Australian Open exit.

The world No. 3 suffered a four-set defeat to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final. Djokovic later admitted he might have retired if Alcaraz took a two-set lead.

But Alcaraz has defended his result in Melbourne, claiming it wasn’t a “missed opportunity”.

Carlos Alcaraz lost to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open (Image: Getty)

The 21-year-old is back in action at this week’s ATP 500 in Rotterdam, where he is making his tournament debut. It will be Alcaraz’s first appearance since Djokovic sent him packing at the Australian Open.

The Spaniard looked nailed on to win their blockbuster quarter-final clash when Djokovic left the court for a medical timeout before losing the first set. The 37-year-old appeared to be struggling physically, but he stormed back to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.

Afterwards, Djokovic admitted the win could’ve been Alcaraz’s had he gone two sets down. “If I lost the second set I didn’t know if I would continue playing,” the Serb said.

At the time, Alcaraz said he didn’t believe his opponent would’ve given up the match.

Djokovic ultimately retired in the semi-final – but Alcaraz says the defeat wasn’t a missed chance, even if it would’ve given him the chance to keep fighting for the title.

“I don’t feel that it was a missed opportunity against Novak,” the top seed in Rotterdam explained.

“I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was able to but Novak played an unbelievable match.

“Facing Novak in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing. It was a pretty good match. I have tried to take the good things about that match and will look ahead now.”

Alcaraz has had two weeks to regroup ahead of his debut in Rotterdam but the four-time Major winner revealed that he suffered a setback when he got ill.

He continued: “I spent a few days at home after Australia, but I got a cold. I was struggling a little bit at home. I could only train for two days and then I had to rest until the cold got better.

“But spending time at home, it doesn’t matter if you are sick, it is always great, having your family there. It allows you to be fresh mentally, to travel again.”

The world No. 3 won’t be able to ease his way into the draw in Rotterdam as he faces Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round. The dangerous Dutchman shocked Alcaraz in the second round of last year’s US Open.

“He’s a really tough player. I;ve played against him a few times already. The last time I lost against him,” Alcaraz said.

“I am now going to play him in his home. I will enjoy playing my first match here in Rotterdam and I will see how it goes.

“The crowd will probably be against me but I will enjoy it and do my best. I am here for the challenge and to get through.”