Carlos Alcaraz has shared yet another disappointing update. He has joined Novak Djokovic in pulling out of the 2026 Madrid Open. The announcement comes just days after he abandoned the Barcelona Open.
Alcaraz called the decision “incredibly hard to share” given the significance of the Masters 1000 tournament as a Spaniard.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Emotional Update About the Madrid Open
Alcaraz, a two-time champion in the Spanish capital, was expected to be the second seed after Jannik Sinner. He had no points to defend, having also skipped the tournament last year. At the time, he was affected by a tear in his right adductor and an injury to his left hamstring.
This time around, the 22-year-old has been compromised by a wrist injury. In his message, he expressed sadness about missing his home tournament.
“There are some news that are incredibly hard to share. Madrid is home, one of the most special places on my calendar, and that’s why it hurts so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row. It hurts especially not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much. Thank you for the unwavering affection, and I hope we see each other soon,” he said.
Hay noticias que cuesta muchísimo dar. Madrid es casa, uno de los lugares más especiales del calendario para mí, y por eso me duele tanto no poder jugar aquí por segundo año consecutivo. Me duele especialmente no poder estar delante de mi gente, en un torneo que es tan especial.… pic.twitter.com/Qr6bznFJod
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) April 17, 2026
On Tuesday, April 14, two days after he fell short in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters, Alcaraz contested his first Barcelona Open match. While he secured an easy win, he appeared to injure his forearm mid-match. The next day, the Spaniard canceled his practice and, just hours later, withdrew from the ATP 500 event.
“After seeing the results today, it turns out the injury is a little more serious than we all expected. I need to listen to my body and do what’s best for me so it doesn’t affect me in the future,” Alcaraz during his press conference.
Alcaraz is the second top player to cancel his Madrid plans. Earlier today, Novak Djokovic, too, shared that he won’t be competing at the tournament as he continues his recovery. Despite his withdrawal, Alcaraz is expected to be in the Spanish capital for the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 on Monday, April 20. He is nominated for the Sportsman of the Year award.
MORE: Novak Djokovic’s Brief Madrid Open Withdrawal Message Comes a Day After Training
Meanwhile, doubts have also been raised about Jannik Sinner’s participation at the upcoming Masters 1000 event. The World No. 1 has been on the road since February. After an early exit in Doha, Sinner turned the corner to win back-to-back-to-back titles in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo. During his post-victory press conference, he indicated that he would be competing in Rome before the French Open, but did not disclose his Madrid Open status.
