Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both been forced to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open due to injuries. Alcaraz, ranked second in the world, is still recovering from a wrist injury, while Djokovic is dealing with a persistent shoulder issue.
The Spanish player was given medical attention during his first-round win over Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open and subsequently withdrew from the tournament before his next match against Tomas Machac. He has now been forced to miss the biggest tournament in his home country, which is scheduled to begin on April 21 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Alcaraz expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that it was difficult for him to share the news, especially since Madrid is one of the most significant places on his calendar. He thanked his fans for their unwavering support and hopes to see them soon.
With Alcaraz out of the Madrid Open, Jannik Sinner is likely to be the top seed at the French Open and may remain the world's number one player until the end of Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic has also announced that he will not be participating in the Madrid Open as he continues to recover from his injury. The 38-year-old Serb lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in February and was defeated by Jack Draper in the fourth round at Indian Wells last month.
He then pulled out of the Miami Open due to a right shoulder injury and skipped the Monte-Carlo Masters. Djokovic stated on Instagram that he would not be able to compete in Madrid this year and is focusing on his recovery to return to the sport 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Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament.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 set to take place on Monday. Djokovic will be seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title when the French Open begins on May 24.
Meanwhile, Britain's Jack Draper is racing against time to recover from a knee injury in time for the event in the Spanish capital. 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. The 19-year-old Spaniard will attempt to reach his second tour-level final on Saturday when he faces ninth seed Arthur Fils. Katie Boulter suffered a straight sets loss to Veronika Podrez in the quarter-finals in Rouen.
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