Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both been forced to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues. Alcaraz, ranked second in the world, is still recovering from a wrist injury, while Djokovic is dealing with a persistent shoulder problem.
The Spanish player was initially treated for his wrist injury during a match in Barcelona and later withdrew from the tournament before his next scheduled match. He has now been forced to miss the Madrid Open, a significant tournament in his home country, which is set to begin on April 21.
Alcaraz expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that it was 'incredibly hard' to share the news, especially given the tournament's importance to him. With Alcaraz's withdrawal, Jannik Sinner is likely to become the top seed at the French Open and may remain the world's number one until the end of Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has also announced that he will not be participating in the Madrid Open as he continues to recover from his injury.
The 38-year-old Serb had previously missed events in Miami and Monte Carlo due to a right shoulder injury. Djokovic, a three-time champion, stated on Instagram that he was 'continuing his recovery' and hoped to be back 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Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament.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 begins on May 24. In related news, Rafael Jodar has extended his winning streak to eight matches after defeating Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open.
The 19-year-old Spaniard will face ninth seed Arthur Fils in the semi-finals on Saturday.