Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has officially pulled out of the 2025 Madrid Open due to muscle injuries, citing concerns over aggravating the issues just weeks before the French Open. The two-time defending Madrid champion had been scheduled to play his opening match this Saturday at the Caja Mágica, where he was seeded second and slated to share a draw half with Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz, ranked No. 3 in the world, revealed that he has not fully recovered from a muscle injury in his right leg that flared up during last weekend’s Barcelona Open final loss to Holger Rune. In addition, he is also dealing with discomfort in his left leg. Despite doing everything possible to be ready for Madrid, Alcaraz ultimately opted to withdraw after consulting with doctors and listening to his body.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make,” said Alcaraz. “Madrid is a special tournament for me—I grew up watching it, I’ve won here twice, and I always look forward to playing in front of my fans. But sometimes, you have to prioritize your health and your long-term goals.”
The 21-year-old, who turns 22 on May 5, emphasized that pushing through the injuries could risk a long-term setback, potentially ruling him out of Roland Garros. “If I play here and things get worse, I might be out for months. That’s a risk I can’t afford right now,” he said.
Alcaraz, the reigning French Open champion, remains confident about returning in time to defend his title in Paris, which begins May 25. He also expressed hope of playing at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, the final major clay-court event before the Grand Slam.
“My mindset is focused on doing everything necessary to be 100% fit for Rome,” he said. “We’ll run some tests early next week to track my recovery and decide based on that. If Rome isn’t possible, then the French Open will be my next stop.”
Alcaraz has enjoyed a strong clay-court season, beginning with a title in Monte Carlo and entering the Barcelona final on a nine-match win streak. Despite his withdrawal, he remains one of the top contenders for Roland Garros, where he triumphed last year in a thrilling final over Alexander Zverev—who has just overtaken Alcaraz in the rankings to move to world No. 2.
