Injury Forces Alcaraz and Djokovic to Withdraw from Madrid Open

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues.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 tennis star was forced to pull out of the Barcelona tournament after receiving medical attention during his first-round win over Otto Virtanen. He expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that not being able to play in Madrid, one of the most significant events on his calendar, is 'incredibly hard' for him. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, also announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open, citing his ongoing recovery as the reason. Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also pulled out of the tournament. The draw for the Madrid Open is set to take place on Monday, and the event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis starting April 21. The absence of Alcaraz from the Madrid Open may pave the way for Jannik Sinner to become the top seed at the French Open and potentially claim the world No 1 spot until the end of Wimbledon.