Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues.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 continues to deal with a persistent shoulder problem. The Spanish tennis star was forced to pull out of the tournament in his home country, which begins on April 21 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Alcaraz expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that not being able to play in Madrid, a place that holds great significance for him, is particularly painful. 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. Novak Djokovic also announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open, citing his ongoing recovery from injury. The 38-year-old Serbian tennis player has been dealing with a right shoulder injury that forced him to miss recent events in Miami and Monte Carlo.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, is working towards his return to competition and is looking to claim a record 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open, which starts on May 24. 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.