The Mutua Madrid Open faces a significant blow to its star power just days before the 2026 edition begins, with Carlos Alcaraz confirming his withdrawal due to a worsening right wrist injury. The Spaniard’s absence follows Novak Djokovic’s earlier announcement that he will not compete, leaving the tournament awaiting a final decision from Jannik Sinner on his participation.
Alcaraz revealed his withdrawal on Friday, April 17, 2026, stating that medical tests confirmed his wrist issue is more serious than initially feared. The world No. 2 had already withdrawn from the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell earlier in the week after experiencing discomfort during his opening match against Otto Virtanen. He explained that playing in Madrid would risk aggravating the injury, particularly given the physical demands of the clay-court event at the Caja Mágica.
“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,” Alcaraz said in his statement. He added that the decision was especially difficult because of his desire to compete in front of his home crowd at a tournament that holds deep personal significance.
The withdrawal means Alcaraz will not defend points in Madrid for the second consecutive year. Last season, he missed the event due to a left hamstring injury. He enters the 2026 clay swing with no points to defend in Spain, though he will need to defend 1,000 points at the Italian Open in Rome and 2,000 at Roland Garros, where he reached the final in 2025.
Alcaraz’s absence significantly alters the dynamics of the ATP No. 1 race. According to verified rankings, Jannik Sinner currently leads with 13,350 points, while Alcaraz trails by 110 points with 13,240. If Sinner also withdraws from Madrid, neither player would gain or lose points at the event, preserving the gap until the Rome Masters begins.
Sinner, who won the Monte Carlo Masters recently, indicated after his victory that he would take 2-3 days with his team to finalize his schedule for the upcoming clay-court swing. As of Friday afternoon, he had not confirmed whether he will play in Madrid. The Italian defended finalist points in Rome last year and is expected to compete there, where he reached the final in 2025 before losing to Alcaraz in straight sets.
The mutual absence of Alcaraz and Sinner from Madrid would mark the second year in a row that neither has played the tournament. Sinner also missed the 2025 edition, meaning the Madrid Open would lose two of the sport’s biggest names for consecutive seasons. Their potential non-appearance shifts focus to other contenders such as Alexander Zverev, who is listed among the expected participants in early tournament materials.
Alcaraz’s wrist problem adds to a history of physical challenges that have affected his schedule in recent seasons. The Spaniard has emphasized the importance of listening to his body when making calendar decisions, particularly after enduring a demanding start to the 2026 season that included deep runs in multiple tournaments.
The Mutua Madrid Open is set to begin on Monday, May 1, 2026, with the main draw draw scheduled for the preceding Monday, April 20. Tournament officials have not announced any changes to the format or field size despite the high-profile withdrawals. Fans attending the event at the Caja Mágica will miss seeing Alcaraz compete on home soil for the second straight year.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz’s focus will shift to recovery and preparation for the Rome Masters, where he aims to defend his 2025 title. His participation in that event remains uncertain until closer to the start date, though he has expressed intent to compete if his wrist allows. The next official update on his condition is expected from his team in the coming days, potentially ahead of the Rome tournament’s commitment deadline.
For continued updates on the Mutua Madrid Open and the ATP No. 1 race, readers are encouraged to follow official tournament channels and verified sports news sources. Share your thoughts on how these withdrawals might affect the clay-court season in the comments below.
