The World No 3 has entered the Vienna Open, which runs from 26 October to 1 November, despite previously indicating that he would play only three more events this season: the Paris Masters, ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals.
“Welcome in Vienna, Carlos Alcaraz!” tournament organisers enthusiastically announced on social media. “Last-minute news, huge excitement! Carlos will be kicking off his tournament on Tuesday, October 27!”
The decision comes after the postponement of the lucrative Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, where Alcaraz had been due to compete next week.
The exhibition event, which was scheduled for 21-24 October, was postponed until December following attacks on Riyadh airport.
Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Learner Tien were set to compete for a first prize of $6 million.
With the Six Kings Slam no longer on the immediate calendar, Alcaraz would have faced a three-week gap between his last match at the Shanghai Masters and the start of the Paris Masters on 2 November.
The Spaniard was stunned by Zizou Bergs in the second round in Shanghai, just days after winning the Japan Open. The early exit, combined with the postponement of the exhibition event, would have left him with little match practice ahead of the Paris tournament.
Alcaraz will now join a strong field in Vienna, where Zverev is set to be the top seed. Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Frances Tiafoe, de Minaur and Jakub Mensik are also on the entry list.
World No 1 Jannik Sinner had been expected to headline the tournament, but he has withdrawn due to a knee injury and will be unable to defend his title.
