Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have both announced that they will not compete in this year’s Mutua Madrid Open after being sidelined by injuries. The Spanish teenager, who is currently ranked world No. 2, is still nursing a wrist problem that forced him to withdraw after his first‑round win in Barcelona. The Serbian legend, Novak Djokovic, is still dealing with a persistent shoulder issue that has kept him out of recent tournaments in Miami and Monte Carlo, and he has confirmed that he is not fit enough to play in Madrid.
Alcaraz’s situation unfolded after his opening‑round victory over Finland’s Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open. Although he secured the win, the Spaniard required medical attention for his wrist during the match. He was scheduled to face Tomas Machac in the next round, but the injury proved too severe, prompting him to pull out of the event before the match could take place.
In a heartfelt post on social media, Alcariz expressed his disappointment, describing Madrid as "home" and one of the most special stops on his calendar. He wrote, "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 he will miss the biggest tournament in his native country, which is set to start on April 21 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Djokovic’s decision came after a string of setbacks this season.
The 38‑year‑old Serbian lost to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in February and then fell to Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells. He subsequently withdrew from the Miami Open because of a right‑shoulder injury and skipped the Monte‑Carlo Masters altogether.
Arriving in Spain to begin preparations for Madrid, he announced via Instagram that he would not be able to compete, stating, "Madrid, unfortunately I won't be able to compete this year. I'm continuing my recovery in order to be back soon." The three‑time Madrid champion will now focus on his rehabilitation with an eye on the upcoming French Open, where he hopes to chase a record 25th Grand Slam title. The withdrawals of Alcaraz and Djokovic have reshaped the landscape of the Madrid draw.
With the world’s top two players out, Jannik Sinner is now the clear favorite to claim the top seed at the French Open and is likely to hold the world No. 1 ranking through Wimbledon, assuming he maintains his form. Other notable absentees include Taylor Fritz, France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Britain’s Jacob Fearnley, all of whom have also pulled out of the tournament for various reasons.
In other news from the Spanish circuit, 19‑year‑old Rafael Jodar secured his second straight victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the Barcelona Open quarter‑finals, winning 6‑3, 6‑2 and extending his winning streak to eight matches. Jodar’s triumph adds him to an exclusive list of Spanish teenagers who have reached the Barcelona semi‑finals in the Open Era, joining Alex Corretja (1994), Carlos Moya (1996), Rafael Nadal (2005, 2006) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022, 2023).
He now prepares for a potential second tour‑level final on Saturday when he faces ninth seed Arthur Fils, who advanced after defeating second seed Lorenzo Musetti. Meanwhile, Britain’s Jack Draper is also battling fitness concerns.
The young Brit retired from his first match in Barcelona this week due to a knee injury, and he is racing against the clock to be ready for the Madrid Open should his recovery go well. On the women’s side, Katie Boulter suffered a straight‑sets defeat to Veronika Podrez, 6‑4, 6‑1, in the quarter‑finals of the tournament in Rouen. The absence of the sport’s biggest names has opened the door for emerging talent to make deeper runs in the Madrid Open, potentially altering the ATP rankings and the seedings for the upcoming Grand Slam events.
Fans can still follow live action through Sky Sports or stream matches via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, which offers subscribers more than 50 percent additional live sport coverage at no extra cost. Both Alcaraz and Djokovic have emphasized that their primary focus is on full recovery.
Alcaraz’s wrist injury, while not life‑threatening, requires careful rehabilitation to prevent long‑term issues, especially given his aggressive baseline style. Djokovic’s shoulder problem has been a lingering concern throughout the season, affecting his serve and his ability to generate power on his forehand.
Both players have expressed optimism about returning to competition soon, but they acknowledge that rushing back could jeopardize their health and performance. In summary, the Mutua Madrid Open will proceed without its two biggest stars, leaving a more open field for other competitors to seize the spotlight. The tournament’s schedule remains unchanged, and matches will continue to be broadcast live, ensuring fans can still enjoy high‑quality tennis despite the notable absences.
The tennis world now turns its attention to the upcoming French Open, where both Alcaraz and Djokovic hope to return in top form after completing their respective recoveries.