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Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues.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, currently ranked second in the world, is still recovering from a wrist injury, while Djokovic continues to deal with a lingering shoulder problem. The Spanish tennis star was forced to pull out of the tournament in Barcelona and has now been compelled to miss the Madrid Open, which is set to begin on April 21. In a social media post, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that it 'hurts so much not to be able to play' in his home country. With Alcaraz's withdrawal, Jannik Sinner is likely to become the top seed at the French Open and potentially claim the world No 1 spot until the end of Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has also announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open, citing his ongoing recovery from a right shoulder injury. The 38-year-old Serb had previously pulled out of the Miami Open and Monte Carlo Masters due to the same issue. Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament.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 to take place on Monday. Djokovic will be looking to claim a record 25th Grand Slam title when the French Open commences on May 24. In other 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.