Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both announced that they will not compete in the Mutua Madrid Open because of ongoing injury problems. The Spanish teenager, who is currently ranked world No. 2, is still nursing a wrist ailment that has kept him off the court since his recent match in Barcelona. Djokovic, the 38‑year‑old Serbian legend, is battling a persistent shoulder issue that has already forced him out of several high‑profile events, and he does not feel ready to return to competition in Madrid.
Alcaraz’s situation unfolded after his first‑round win over Finland's Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open. The Spaniard required medical treatment following the victory and, despite initially planning to play his next match against Tomas Machac, he ultimately withdrew from the tournament. In a heartfelt post on social media, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment: "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 absence means that the Madrid Open, which starts on April 21 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis, will be missing one of its biggest local stars. The withdrawal of Alcariz has broader implications for the upcoming Grand Slam calendar.
With the Spaniard out of the Madrid event, Jannik Sinner is now the clear favorite to be the top seed at the French Open and is likely to hold the world No. 1 ranking through the end of Wimbledon, assuming he maintains his current form.
Djokovic’s decision to skip Madrid was announced via an Instagram statement in which he wrote, "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. Earlier in the season, he lost to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final and suffered an upset defeat to Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells.
After pulling out of Miami, he also missed the Monte‑Carlo Masters before traveling to Spain to begin preparations for the Madrid tournament. However, the lingering pain in his right shoulder forced him to withdraw before playing a single match. Other players have also withdrawn from the Madrid draw. British hopeful Jacob Fearnley, American Taylor Fritz, and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard all pulled out for various reasons, leaving the tournament field reshaped ahead of the Monday draw ceremony.
The Spanish capital’s tournament will now proceed without two of its biggest attractions, but the competition remains fierce. Young Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who recently recorded his second straight victory over Cameron Norrie in the Barcelona Open quarter‑finals, is aiming to become only the fifth Spanish teenager in the Open Era to reach the Barcelona semi‑finals. He joins the likes of Alex Corretja (1994), Carlos Moya (1996), Rafael Nadal (2005, 2006) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022, 2023). Jodar will face ninth seed Arthur Fils, who upset second seed Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semis, in a match that could determine his place in a tour‑level final.
Meanwhile, British player Jack Draper is also fighting to stay fit for the Madrid event after retiring from his opening match in Barcelona with a knee injury. Draper, who previously defeated Alcaraz in a junior showdown, is hoping to recover in time for the Spanish clay swing. On the women’s side, Katie Boulter was eliminated in the quarter‑finals of the Rouen tournament by Veronika Podrez, losing 6‑4, 6‑1.
The loss underscores the depth of competition on the WTA Tour as players prepare for the clay‑court season leading up to Roland Garros. Fans can continue to follow the ATP and WTA tours live on Sky Sports, or stream matches via NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offers more than 50 percent additional live sport coverage at no extra charge for Sky Sports subscribers. For those looking for a more accessible video experience, using the Chrome browser is recommended.
Looking ahead, Djokovic will be targeting a record 25th Grand Slam title when the French Open begins on May 24. Despite his current setbacks, the Serbian champion remains determined to return to peak condition and add another major trophy to his impressive résumé. Alcaraz, meanwhile, will focus on rehabilitation with the goal of returning to competition as soon as his wrist permits, hoping to defend his titles later in the season and continue his rapid ascent in the rankings.