Injury Forces Alcaraz and Djokovic to Withdraw from Madrid Open

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and tennis legend Novak Djokovic have both been forced to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues. Alcaraz continues his recovery from a wrist injury, while Djokovic is dealing with a persistent shoulder problem. The news comes as a significant blow to the tournament, which is set to begin on April 21 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Alcaraz expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that it 'hurts so much' to miss the event in his home country for the second year in a row. With Alcaraz out, Jannik Sinner is likely to become the top seed at the French Open and may claim the world No. 1 spot until the end of Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open on Instagram, citing his ongoing recovery and stating that he will '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 Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament.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 scheduled for Monday. Djokovic will be seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title when the French Open commences on May 24. In other news, Britain's Jack Draper is racing to recover from a knee injury in time for the event in Madrid, while Rafael Jodar has earned his second consecutive win against Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open, extending his winning streak to eight matches.