Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from Madrid Open after wrist injury
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Spain's world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will be hoping to recover from his wrist injury in time for the French Open in May, after he withdrew from next week's Madrid Open.
PHOTO: AFP
- Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open due to a wrist injury sustained in Barcelona, hindering his French Open preparation.
- Alcaraz expressed disappointment about missing the Madrid tournament for the second year running, as it’s a special event for him.
- The injury impacts Alcaraz's plans to defend his French Open title; Novak Djokovic also withdrew from Madrid due to injury.
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MADRID – Carlos Alcaraz has increasing concerns over whether he will be able to defend his Roland Garros title, after he withdrew from next week’s Madrid Open on April 17.
The world No. 2 played in the first round of the Barcelona Open before pulling out of the event on April 15 because of a wrist injury.
“There is news that is incredibly hard to share. Madrid is home, one of the most special places on the calendar for me, and that’s why it hurts so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row,” wrote Alcaraz in a post on X.
“It hurts me especially not being able to be in front of my people, in a tournament that is so special. Thank you for the love as always and I hope to see you soon.”
Earlier on April 17, 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic also pulled out of the Madrid Open, which begins on April 22.
The French Open, which Alcaraz won back to back in 2024 and 2025, starts on May 24.
The Spaniard lost his world No. 1 ranking following his defeat by Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final on April 12. He would have had a chance to regain it by winning the title in Barcelona, with Sinner not playing this week.
The 22-year-old became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam in January with his triumph at the Australian Open. He holds a 22-3 record this season and also won a title in Doha.
Alcaraz said earlier in April he was hoping to play a full season on clay before starting his French Open title defence.
In 2025 he won in Monte Carlo but skipped the Madrid Open, returning at the Italian Open to lift the trophy there for the first time.
As for Djokovic, the Serb is still working through the injury problems that forced him to miss recent events in Miami and Monte Carlo, and he said that he will not be ready for Madrid.
The 38-year-old lost to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in February and fell to Jack Draper in the Indian Wells round of 16 in March, before pulling out of the Miami Open due to a right shoulder injury.
He then skipped last week’s Monte Carlo Masters before arriving in Spain as he expected to begin preparations for the Madrid Open.
“Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete this year,” Djokovic posted on Instagram. “I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!”
Meanwhile at the Barcelona Open on April 18, Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev came from a set down to rally past Serbia’s 88th-ranked Hamad Medjedovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to progress to the tournament’s title decider for the first time.
The world No. 15 will face France’s ninth seed Arthur Fils on April 19.
In a semi-final between two young stars, the 21-year-old had to dig deep to pull off a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback victory over 19-year-old Spanish wild card Rafael Jodar.
The Frenchman, who lost to Alcaraz at the Qatar Open final in February, will be looking to win the fourth title of his career when he faces Rublev in the Barcelona final on April 19. REUTERS, AFP
