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 lingering injuries. The Spanish teenager, who is currently ranked world No. 2, is still dealing with a wrist problem that has kept him off the court for several weeks. Djokovic, the 38‑year‑old Serbian legend, is still battling a shoulder ailment that has already caused him to miss a string of high‑profile events, and he does not feel ready to return to competition yet.
Alcariz's situation became clear during his first‑round match in Barcelona, where he faced Finland's Otto Virtanen. After securing the win, the Spaniard received medical treatment on‑court for his wrist and subsequently announced that he would pull out of the Madrid tournament before his next scheduled clash with Tomas Machac.
In a heartfelt post on social media, Alcaraz 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 he will miss the biggest event in his native country, which is set to begin on April 21 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.
With Alcaraz out, the seedings for the upcoming French Open shift dramatically. Jannik Sinner is now virtually guaranteed to be the top seed in Paris and is expected to hold the world No. 1 ranking at least through the conclusion of Wimbledon, assuming he maintains his form and stays injury‑free.
Novak Djokovic also confirmed via Instagram that he will not travel to Madrid. The Serbian has been managing a persistent shoulder issue that forced him out of the Miami Open and kept him away from the Monte‑Carlo Masters. After a disappointing loss to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final and an early exit at Indian Wells at the hands of Jack Draper, Djokovic decided to sit out the Miami tournament to protect his right shoulder.
He then skipped Monte‑Carlo entirely before heading to Spain to begin preparations for Madrid, only to realize that his recovery timeline does not align with the event's start date. In his Instagram statement, Djokovic said, "Madrid, unfortunately I won't be able to compete this year.
I'm continuing my recovery in order to be back soon." The Spanish capital's draw, which is due to be released on Monday, will also be missing several other notable players. Taylor Fritz, Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain's Jacob Fearnley have all withdrawn for various reasons, further thinning the field. British hopeful Jack Draper, who suffered a knee injury that forced him to retire during his first match in Barcelona, is also racing against the clock to be fit for the tournament should his condition improve. Meanwhile, the Barcelona Open provided a bright spot for Spanish tennis.
Young Spaniard Rafael Jodar secured his second consecutive victory over Cameron Norrie in the quarter‑finals, winning 6‑3, 6‑2 and extending his winning streak to eight matches. Jodar, only 19, became the fifth Spanish teenager in the Open Era to reach the Barcelona semi‑finals, joining the likes of Alex Corretja (1994), Carlos Moya (1996), Rafael Nadal (2005, 2006) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022, 2023). He will now face ninth seed Arthur Fils, who upset second seed Lorenzo Musetti to advance to the semi‑finals, in a match that promises to be a showcase of emerging talent. On the women's side, Britain's Katie Boulter was knocked out of the Rouen quarter‑finals by Veronika Podrez, losing 6‑4, 6‑1.
The result underscores the depth of competition across both the ATP and WTA tours as the season heads toward its clay‑court climax. Looking ahead, both Alcaraz and Djokovic will aim to return to full fitness in time for the French Open, which begins on May 24.
Djokovic is targeting a record 25th Grand Slam title, while Alcaraz hopes to continue his rapid ascent and contend for his first Roland Garros crown. Fans can follow the upcoming matches and live streams through Sky Sports, NOW, or the Sky Sports app, which promises over 50 percent more live sport coverage for subscribers at no additional cost. The withdrawals from Madrid serve as a reminder of how injuries can reshape the tennis calendar, but they also open opportunities for the next generation of players to make their mark on the biggest stages.