Injury Forces Alcaraz and Djokovic to Withdraw from Madrid Open

World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both been forced to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues. Alcaraz is still recovering from a wrist injury, while Djokovic is dealing with a persistent shoulder problem. The Spanish tennis star was initially injured during his first-round victory over Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open and was subsequently forced to withdraw from the tournament. Alcaraz expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that it was particularly difficult for him to miss the tournament in his home country. With Alcaraz's withdrawal, Jannik Sinner is likely to become the top seed at the French Open and may retain the world No 1 spot until the end of Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open on social media, citing his ongoing recovery and his desire to return to competition soon. Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament. The draw for the Madrid Open is set to take place on Monday. Djokovic will be seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title when the French Open commences on May 24. In other news, Rafael Jodar earned his second consecutive win against Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open, extending his winning streak to eight matches. Jodar will face ninth seed Arthur Fils in the semi-finals on Saturday.