Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open after suffering injuries that prevent them from competing. The Spanish teenager, who is currently ranked No.
2 in the world, is still rehabilitating a wrist problem, while the Serbian veteran is battling a persistent shoulder issue that has kept him off the court for several weeks. Alcaraz’s injury saga began earlier this month when he required medical attention following his first‑round win over Finland's Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open. Although he completed that match, the lingering wrist pain forced him to pull out before his scheduled second‑round encounter with Tomas Machac.
In a heartfelt post on social media, the 20‑year‑old expressed his disappointment: "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." Alcaraz’s absence is a major blow to the tournament, which is the biggest event in Spain and kicks off on April 21. His withdrawal also reshapes the competitive landscape for the upcoming Grand Slam season. With the Spaniard out, Italy’s Jannik Sinner is now the clear favorite to be seeded first at the French Open and is likely to hold the world No.
1 ranking through Wimbledon, assuming he maintains his current form. Novak Djokovic, the 38‑year‑old Serbian who has won 24 Grand Slam titles, also announced that he will miss the Madrid Open. He posted on Instagram, "Madrid, unfortunately I won't be able to compete this year.
I'm continuing my recovery in order to be back soon." Djokovic’s shoulder injury forced him to withdraw from the Miami Open and caused him to skip the Monte‑Carlo Masters, events he had originally entered as part of his clay‑court preparation. Earlier in the season, he suffered a loss to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final and was upset by Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells, further highlighting the challenges he has faced while trying to regain full fitness. In addition to Alcaraz and Djokovic, several other players have withdrawn from the Madrid draw.
American Taylor Fritz, France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain’s Jacob Fearnley also pulled out, leaving the tournament field more open than anticipated. The draw is set to be released on Monday, and fans can expect a reshuffled seeding list that may give lower‑ranked players a better chance to advance deeper into the event. The injuries have broader implications for the upcoming clay‑court swing.
Djokovic, who is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, will need to accelerate his rehabilitation to be ready for the French Open, which begins on May 24. Meanwhile, Britain’s Jack Draper, who retired with a knee injury during his first match in Barcelona, is also racing to regain fitness for the Spanish capital’s tournament.
The Barcelona Open, a warm‑up event for Madrid, produced its own storylines. Spanish youngster Rafael Jodar secured his second consecutive 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 triumph over the former world No.
8 continues a tradition of Spanish teenage talent thriving on home soil; he joins an elite group that includes Alex Corretja (1994), Carlos Moya (1996), Rafael Nadal (2005, 2006) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022, 2023) as the only Spaniards to reach the Barcelona semi‑finals in the Open Era. Jodar now faces ninth seed Arthur Fils, who upset second seed Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semis, in a match that will determine whether the 19‑year‑old can claim his second tour‑level final appearance. On the women’s side, British player Katie Boulter was defeated by Veronika Podrez in the Rouen quarter‑finals, losing 6‑4, 6‑1.
The tournament continues to showcase emerging talent across both the ATP and WTA tours, even as marquee names sit out due to injury. For fans eager to follow the action, Sky Sports and the NOW streaming service provide live coverage of ATP and WTA matches, with the Sky Sports app offering additional video highlights and news. The platform promises over 50 percent more live sport this year at no extra cost for subscribers, ensuring that despite the withdrawals, tennis enthusiasts can still enjoy high‑quality coverage of the sport’s biggest moments.
In summary, the Madrid Open will proceed without two of its biggest stars, Alcaraz and Djokovic, both of whom are focusing on recovery ahead of the French Open. Their absences open doors for other players to make deep runs, and the reshaped draw promises fresh narratives as the clay‑court season unfolds. The tennis community will be watching closely to see how these injuries affect the rankings and the race for Grand Slam glory later in the year.