Madrid Open hit hard as Alcaraz, Djokovic pull out ahead of tournament

The Madrid Open has suffered a major setback even before the first ball is struck, with two of tennis’s biggest names, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic , withdrawing from the tournament due to injury concerns .

For organisers and fans alike, the double withdrawal has taken away much of the early excitement surrounding the clay court event , which begins on Monday in the Spanish capital.

Alcaraz, currently ranked World No. 2 , confirmed that he will miss the tournament as he continues to recover from a right wrist issue . The young Spaniard, who had already pulled out of the Barcelona Open earlier in the week after discomfort during match play, said it “hurts” to miss Madrid for a second consecutive year . His injury troubles surfaced during his opening match in Barcelona, where he required medical attention despite securing a straight sets win.

Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion and a three-time Madrid winner , is also sidelined as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury . The Serbian star has not competed since Indian Wells and skipped both the Miami Open and Monte Carlo Masters due to the same issue. In a social media message, he said he is focused on recovery and hopes to return soon, signing off with a warm “Hasta pronto”.

The absence of both players significantly reshapes the competition landscape in Madrid , a key stop in the build-up to Roland Garros . Both Alcaraz and Djokovic are expected to target a return at the Italian Open , followed by the French Open, where Alcaraz is the defending champion from last season.

Tournament officials expressed disappointment but extended their support, stating they look forward to welcoming both players back soon.

With two of the sport’s biggest draws missing, attention now turns to how the rest of the field will respond in a wide open Madrid Open .