Carlos Alcaraz has officially withdrawn from the Madrid Open, citing hamstring and groin injuries that could impact his preparation for next month’s French Open, where he is set to defend his title. The 21-year-old sustained the injuries during the final of the Barcelona Open, where he fell to Denmark’s Holger Rune in straight sets.
“I haven’t been able to practice all week and was diagnosed with hamstring and groin issues. I had to listen to my body and make the right call,” Alcaraz told reporters.
The second seed was slated to begin his Madrid campaign on Friday, having received a bye into the second round. However, after struggling physically in the Barcelona final—where he required a medical timeout and further treatment during changeovers—Alcaraz made the difficult decision to pull out.
“I’ll undergo more medical tests on Monday, and we’ll have a clearer idea of my recovery timeline then,” he said. “This tournament means a lot to me, and it hurts to miss the chance to compete here in front of my home crowd, friends, and family.”
The next major stop in the clay-court season is the Italian Open in Rome, running from May 7th to 18th. Alcaraz expressed hope he might still be fit in time to participate.
“I hope to return to the court and resume training within a couple of weeks. Rome is still on the table, but my focus is definitely on being ready for Paris,” he added.
Reflecting on the significance of Madrid, Alcaraz said, “It’s not an easy decision. Madrid was the first tournament I attended as a kid, and it’s the most special place for me to play. But prioritizing Roland Garros played a big part in stepping back to recover properly.”
