Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both been forced to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injuries. Alcaraz, currently ranked second in the world, continues his recovery from a wrist injury, while Djokovic is dealing with a persistent shoulder issue that has hindered his return to competition. The news comes after Alcaraz received medical attention during his first-round win at the Barcelona Open and subsequently withdrew from the tournament. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has also been managing his shoulder injury, which caused him to miss recent events in Miami and Monte Carlo.
In a social media post, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that not being able to compete in Madrid, a significant tournament in his home country, hurts deeply. Similarly, Djokovic announced his withdrawal on Instagram, citing his need to continue recovery in order to return to the sport soon. Their withdrawals have implications for the tournament, with Jannik Sinner likely to become the top seed at the French Open and potentially holding 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 pulled out of the Madrid Open. Meanwhile, Rafael Jodar has made notable progress in the Barcelona Open, earning his second consecutive win against Cameron Norrie and extending his winning streak to eight matches. Jodar is now set to face ninth seed Arthur Fils in the semi-finals, aiming to reach his second tour-level final.