Alcaraz withdraws from Madrid Open with injury concerns ahead of Roland Garros
Two-time Madrid Open champion Carlos Alcaraz has officially withdrawn from the 2025 edition of the tournament due to ongoing hamstring and groin issues, raising fresh concerns about his fitness ahead of his French Open title defense next month.
The 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation revealed on Thursday that he has been unable to train all week following his loss to Holger Rune in the final of the Barcelona Open, where he was visibly struggling with discomfort throughout the match.
“I couldn't practice the entire week and found out I had hamstrings and groin injuries. I needed to listen to my body and make the right decision,” Alcaraz told reporters.
“On Monday I'll have more medical tests and after that we will have a better idea on how long I'll be out.”
Alcaraz, who was granted a second-round bye at the Mutua Madrid Open, was scheduled to play his opening match this Friday. However, the injuries he picked up in Barcelona, where he took a medical timeout during the final, have now forced him to step back from competing in his home tournament.
“This tournament is very exciting, but things haven't worked out the way I wanted to be able to compete. It hurts me not to be able to play here in Madrid in front of my people, my friends and my family,” he added.
Focus Now Shifts to Rome and Roland Garros
The next stop on the ATP clay court calendar is the Italian Open in Rome (May 7–18), a crucial ATP Masters 1000event. Though his participation there remains uncertain, Alcaraz remains optimistic.
“I expect to go back to court and start practising in a couple of weeks. Rome is still a possibility, but for sure I'll be in Paris,” said the world No. 3.
“It's not an easy decision because Madrid is the first tournament I have ever been to as a young kid, it's the most special place for me to play. But (prioritising Roland Garros) was a big part of my decision to stop and recover properly.”
With the Roland Garros main draw beginning on May 25, all eyes will be on Alcaraz’s recovery and whether he can regain peak condition in time to defend his Grand Slam crown against elite competitors like Jannik Sinner, who is expected to return to the circuit following suspension.
Alcaraz’s withdrawal not only affects the draw in Madrid but also adds a new layer of intrigue to the ongoing ATP Tour 2025 season as fans and analysts speculate on how this setback might impact his clay-court campaign.
SportsLigue