Overview
- Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic confirmed they will not play the ATP‑1000 event in Madrid due to injuries.
- Alcaraz cited a right wrist injury and said it hurts to miss his home tournament for a second straight year.
- Djokovic said he is continuing recovery from a shoulder problem after already skipping Miami and Monte‑Carlo.
- With both out, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev is expected to be the No. 2 seed and would only meet top seed Jannik Sinner in a potential final.
- The clay season now points to Rome before the French Open, and Boris Becker called Alcaraz’s withdrawal bad news for Madrid as he hoped the Spaniard is fit for Rome and Roland Garros.