Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both been forced to pull out of the upcoming Mutua Madrid Open due to ongoing injury issues. Alcaraz, currently ranked second in the world, is still recovering from a wrist injury, while Djokovic is dealing with a persistent shoulder problem. The Spanish tennis star had to withdraw from the Barcelona tournament after receiving medical attention during his first-round match against Otto Virtanen. In a social media post, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating that not being able to play in Madrid, his home country, is particularly difficult for him.
Meanwhile, Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open on social media, citing his ongoing recovery and aiming to return to competition soon. Other players, including Taylor Fritz, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley, have also withdrawn from the tournament.
The Madrid Open is set to begin on April 21, and the draw will take place on Monday. Djokovic will be seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open, which starts on May 24. In related news, Rafael Jodar has extended his winning streak to eight matches after defeating Cameron Norrie in the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open, becoming the fifth Spanish teenager to reach the semi-finals in the Open Era.