Carlos Alcaraz is reportedly pulling out of the Madrid Open due to injury, casting doubt over his preparations for the upcoming French Open.
According to Spanish media, the 21-year-old is expected to confirm his withdrawal during a scheduled press appearance this morning. The young Spaniard has been dealing with an adductor issue, which first flared up during his recent defeat to Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final (7-6, 6-2).
Alcaraz had hinted at the injury after that loss, saying:
“The second set started with intense rallies, and I felt soreness in my adductor muscle. When you notice discomfort, alarm bells go off. It’s hard to stay focused because you start worrying about your health.”
Although optimistic initially—stating he was used to playing through discomfort and hoped to compete in Madrid—he underwent tests and awaited results before committing. With the Madrid Open now likely off the table, attention turns to whether he will recover in time for the Italian Open (starting May 6) or the French Open (beginning May 25).
Alcaraz was set to play his first match in Madrid tomorrow, facing the winner of Zizou Bergs vs. Gabriel Diallo after receiving a first-round bye.
Despite a challenging season, with a quarterfinal exit to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open and an inconsistent run since, Alcaraz has still claimed titles at the Rotterdam Open and Monte-Carlo Masters. Last year, he had only one title by this time but went on to win the French Open and defend his Wimbledon crown.
His team remains hopeful the injury won’t derail his clay season entirely.
