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The Spanish Davis Cup team has taken a massive blow after world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz was forced to pull out of the team tournament injured. Alcaraz picked up a thigh injury during Sunday's championship match at the ATP Finals and then travelled to Bologna to join the squad, undergoing scans with the team doctor.

The "heartbroken" Spaniard was then forced to withdraw from the World Cup of men's tennis when scans showed that he had an edema. It leaves the team without their two highest-ranked players, as captain David Ferrer snubbed world No. 14 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from the lineup.

Taking to social media to announce his withdrawal on Tuesday, Alcaraz wrote: "I'm absolutely gutted to announce that I'm not going to be able to play with Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna...

"I have an edema in the hamstring of my right leg, and the medical recommendation is not to compete. I've always said that playing for Spain is the greatest thing there is, and I was so excited to be able to help fight for the Salad Bowl. I'm heading home feeling heartbroken..."

The six-time Grand Slam champion was expected to lead the team for their singles rubbers, but world No. 36 Jaume Munar will now be Spain's top man at the Davis Cup Finals. Pablo Carreno Busta - a former top-10 star now ranked at No. 89 as he returns from surgery - will also play in the singles.

Team captain Ferrer may regret snubbing Davidovich Fokina for the team. Fans were baffled when the 26-year-old did not appear in Spain's original four-man lineup and speculated whether he'd later be added as the fifth player. The world No. 14 later suggested that he "deserved to be among the best players" and said it was Ferrer who didn't want to include him.

"It was captain David Ferrer's decision, and I respect it. Obviously, I would have loved to be on the roster representing my country, but this time he decided to include other players," Davidovich Fokina told Marca.

The Spanish No. 2 missed Spain's qualifier tie against Denmark in September, something that impacted Ferrer's decision, but Davidovich Fokina explained that he was injured and the captain was "aware of everything". Ferrer, however, did not want to name Davidovich Fokina in his initial squad due to fears that he could withdraw again.

Spain's Davis Cup captain later spoke out about his decision, telling COPE: "He told me, 'If I don't make the first list, don't speak to me, so that's why he is ruled out of playing in Bologna. It's something I have to accept, but of course, Alejandro is a great player, he is 14 in the world, he could be an important player for us, but he ruled himself out."

Alcaraz and Davidovich Fokina would have been a formidable one-two lineup had they both been able to compete this week. The pair have a great bond off the court, and Davidovich Fokina even invited the world No. 1 to his wedding. However, Alcaraz admitted everything was off the table when they face off against each other on tour.

"I know him quite well. We've played several times, and we train together often. It's never easy to play against someone you like, but this is tennis: on the court, there are no friends," the US Open winner said when they met in Monte Carlo.