Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues.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 is dealing with a persistent shoulder problem. The Spanish player was forced to pull out of the tournament in Barcelona before his next match and will now miss the biggest tournament in his home country, which begins on April 21. Alcaraz expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that it hurts to miss the event, especially in front of his home crowd.
With Alcaraz's withdrawal, Jannik Sinner is likely to become the top seed at the French Open and potentially the world's number one player until the end of Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic also announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open, citing his ongoing recovery from a right shoulder injury that forced him to miss recent events in Miami and Monte Carlo.
The 38-year-old Serb is a three-time champion at the Madrid Open and was looking to make a comeback but will now focus on his recovery. Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament. Meanwhile, Rafael Jodar has extended his winning streak to eight matches, defeating Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open, and will face Arthur Fils in the semi-finals.