Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo )
The Madrid Open will be missing some major star power this year, with both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic pulling out due to injuries. The tournament, which begins on Monday, will now go ahead without two of its biggest names.
Alcaraz's Withdrawal: A Tough Decision
Carlos Alcaraz, ranked No. 2 in the world, announced on Friday that he would be missing the Madrid Open for the second consecutive year. His decision comes after a wrist injury forced him to pull out of the Barcelona Open earlier this week. Alcaraz had undergone a test on his right wrist after experiencing discomfort during his opening match in Barcelona, where he won against Otto Virtanen.
“It really hurts me to announce this,” Alcaraz said, referring to his withdrawal from Madrid. "I was really looking forward to playing in front of my fans, but my wrist still needs more recovery time."
Alcaraz had his wrist treated by a trainer during his match in Barcelona, and despite his win, the decision was made to rest and recover before returning to action.
Djokovic's Shoulder Injury Keeps Him Off the Court
Novak Djokovic, the world No. 4 and three-time Madrid Open champion, has also been dealing with injury issues. The Serbian has been sidelined since the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and has missed both the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters due to a persistent right shoulder injury.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete at the Madrid Open this year,” Djokovic wrote on social media. "I'm continuing my recovery and looking forward to being back on the court soon. Hasta pronto!"
Djokovic’s absence from Madrid means that the tournament, which he has won three times, will be missing one of its most successful players. The 35-year-old is hoping to return to the circuit in time for the Italian Open and the French Open, the latter of which he has won twice.
The Road Ahead for Both Players
Both Alcaraz and Djokovic are targeting the Italian Open and the French Open as their next major tournaments. Last year, Alcaraz claimed victory at both events, while Djokovic will look to bounce back from his injury struggles.
The Madrid Open organizers expressed their disappointment over the withdrawals, wishing both players a speedy recovery. “We hope to see you back here as soon as possible so we can enjoy your tennis as we have done so many times in the Caja Magica,” the statement said.
The Madrid Open will now proceed without two of its top draws, but with plenty of other talented players in the mix, fans can still expect an exciting week of tennis action.
