After Australian Open victory, Carlos Alcaraz won't defend Rotterdam title

Carlos Alcaraz is taking some time off after his history-making Australian Open triumph. After defeating Novak Djokovic in four sets on Sunday to win his seventh Grand Slam singles title, and become the youngest man complete the boxed set of career major victories, the Spaniard will not compete at the upcoming ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, where he is the defending champion.

A statement released by the tournament on Monday said that Alcaraz "concluded that after his exertions over the past two weeks, he needs more time to return to action."

Last year, Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur in the final of the ATP 500 event to win his first of what was eight trophies for the season, and his first career trophy on indoor hard courts. He was the first Spanish champion in event history.

Top 10 players Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and de Minaur lead the field at the ATP 500 event, which begins on Feb. 9.

Read more: “I just got mature”: Carlos Alcaraz used his full arsenal to beat Novak Djokovic and complete the career Slam

Alcaraz took the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for a tour around Melbourne on Monday for the traditional champion's photo shoot, which took place at the Royal Exhibition Building among gardens in the city center.  Dressed in all-black, the world No. 1 wore loafers with no socks after playing nearly nine hours worth of tennis over the final two rounds, and having a fun post-victory party.

According to Australian media reports, Alcaraz celebrated his historic triumph with family in his hotel suite, ordering pizza, beer and champagne.

In his victorious post-final press conference, Alcaraz alluded to wanting to enjoy the fruits of his labor amidst the continual grind of the globe-trotting tennis tour.

"I'm going to say tennis really beautiful, but what the bad part of tennis, it is we have tournaments week after week after week, and sometimes you don't realize what you've been doing lately, because you know, once you finish tournament, you got to be prepared or your mind is about, you know, going to the next tournament," he said.

"So sometimes you don't stop yourself and think about what you're doing. What I've learned this year is about appreciate and enjoy every single second of the moment you're living. Not only lifting the trophies, but playing tournaments, playing tennis, getting victories, getting loses. Whatever it is, just enjoy and appreciate the life you're living.

"So right now I'm just trying to have a time to realize what I've been doing. ... For me, it's an honor to put my name on the history books."