Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both announced that they will not take part in the Mutua Madrid Open after being forced to withdraw because of ongoing physical problems. The Spanish prodigy, who is currently ranked world No. 2, is still nursing a wrist injury that has kept him out of competition for several weeks.
Djokovic, the 38‑year‑old Serbian legend, is still battling a persistent shoulder issue that has already caused him to miss a string of high‑profile events, and he does not feel ready to return to the court in Madrid. Alcaraz’s situation unfolded after his first‑round triumph over Finland’s Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open. Although he secured the win, the Spaniard required medical attention on court for his wrist and subsequently decided to pull out of the Madrid tournament before his next match against Tomas Machac could be scheduled. In a heartfelt post on social media, Alcariz wrote, “There are some news that are incredibly hard to share.
Madrid is home, one of the most special places on my calendar, and that’s why it hurts so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row. It hurts especially not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much. Thank you for the unwavering affection, and I hope we see each other soon.” His withdrawal means that the draw in Madrid opens up considerably, giving Jannik Sinner a clear path to become the top seed at the upcoming French Open and likely to hold the world No.
1 ranking through Wimbledon, assuming he stays healthy. Djokovic’s decision was communicated via an Instagram post in which he said, “Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete this year. I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon.” The Serbian’s shoulder injury has already cost him participation in the Miami Open and the Monte‑Carlo Masters, and it also forced him to retire early in his opening match at the Barcelona Open. Earlier this season, Djokovic was beaten by Alcaraz in the Australian Open final and suffered a fourth‑round loss to Jack Draper at Indian Wells before pulling out of Miami.
The 24‑time Grand Slam champion now hopes to be fully fit for the French Open, where he will be aiming for an unprecedented 25th major title when the tournament begins on May 24. The Madrid Open has also seen a number of other withdrawals.
American Taylor Fritz, Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain’s Jacob Fearnley have all pulled out, leaving the field more open than anticipated. British youngster Jack Draper, who was eliminated by Djokovic in the Australian Open final, also faces a setback after retiring in his first match in Barcelona with a knee injury, jeopardizing his own preparation for the Spanish capital. In other news from the Barcelona Open, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar secured his second straight victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the quarter‑finals, winning 6‑3, 6‑2 and extending his winning streak to eight matches. Jodar’s win adds to his growing résumé; he is now only the fifth Spanish teenager in the Open Era to reach the Barcelona semi‑finals, joining the ranks of Alex Corretja (1994), Carlos Moya (1996), Rafael Nadal (2005, 2006) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022, 2023).
The 19‑year‑old will next face ninth seed Arthur Fils, who upset second seed Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semis, in what promises to be a compelling semi‑final clash. Meanwhile, on the WTA side, Britain’s Katie Boulter was defeated by Veronika Podrez in straight sets (6‑4, 6‑1) in the quarter‑finals of the tournament in Rouen, ending her run in that event. The absence of two of the sport’s biggest stars from Madrid is a disappointment for fans, especially given the tournament’s status as a key warm‑up event for the French Open.
However, it also creates opportunities for emerging players to make deeper runs and gain valuable experience on the clay. With the draw set to be released on Monday, attention will now turn to how the remaining field adapts to the sudden vacancies and which new names might seize the moment. For viewers, live coverage of the ATP and WTA tours remains available on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options through NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers access to a larger proportion of live sport at no extra cost. Fans are encouraged to check the official platforms for the latest match schedules, scores, and highlights as the tennis calendar progresses toward the clay‑court season’s climax at Roland Garros.