JAKARTA - Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz and Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Mutua Madrid Open due to injury.
"There are some news that are very difficult to share. Madrid is my home, one of the most special places in my calendar, and that's why it hurts so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row," Alcaraz wrote in a media post quoted Saturday.
"Especially painful not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much. Thank you for your unwavering affection, and I hope we will see each other again soon."
Alcaraz has many fond memories at the Caja Magica, where he won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. The 22-year-old has a 15-2 record at the tournament, according to the ATP win/loss index.
Alcaraz started his season perfectly at the Australian Open, where he completed the Career Grand Slam before lifting another trophy in Doha.
After reaching the semifinals at Indian Wells and being knocked out in the third round in Miami, he lost to rival Jannik Sinner in the Monte-Carlo final, which was also a battle for the No.1 position in the ATP rankings.
Alcaraz competed in his home country this week in Barcelona, where he won his opening match in two straight sets. However, the world number two withdrew before the second-round match due to a wrist injury.
"This is a slightly more serious injury than we all thought," Alcaraz told the media at a press conference after his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open.
"And, honestly, I need to listen to my body, do what's best for me, so that it doesn't impact me in the future."
Meanwhile, tournament organizers announced that Djokovic also withdrew from the Madrid Open due to injury.
The former world No. 1 last competed at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in March and missed the Miami Open later that month with a right shoulder injury.
Djokovic has won the title three times at the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid tournament, where he last lifted the trophy in 2019.
"Madrid, unfortunately I can't compete this year. I continue my recovery to return soon. See you," Djokovic wrote on social media.
Djokovic is 7-2 for the season, according to the ATP's win/loss record, a calculation that includes his run to the Australian Open final.
The 40-time Masters 1000 champion is next scheduled to compete at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, which runs from May 6-17.
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