Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both been forced to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues. Alcaraz, currently 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 his first-round win over Otto Virtanen in Barcelona and later withdrew from the tournament before his scheduled match against Tomas Machac.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has been working to overcome the injury that kept him out of recent events in Miami and Monte Carlo. The 38-year-old announced his decision to skip the Madrid Open on social media, stating that he is continuing his recovery to ensure a swift return to competition. This development means Jannik Sinner is likely to become the top seed at the French Open and potentially hold the world No 1 spot until the end of Wimbledon.
Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament. Novak Djokovic is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title when the French Open begins on May 24. In related news, Rafael Jodar achieved his second consecutive win against Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open, extending his winning streak to eight matches.
Jodar, just 19 years old, is now one of the few Spanish teenagers to reach the semi-finals in Barcelona, joining notable figures like Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.