Madrid loses two stars

The Madrid Open will start on April 20 without Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic after both withdrew with injuries. (bbc.com) Alcaraz, the world No. 2, said Friday that a wrist injury will keep him out of his home ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid. The ATP Tour said he announced the withdrawal on April 17. (atptour.com) Djokovic also pulled out because of a shoulder injury, according to the ATP Tour and the tournament announcement carried by multiple outlets. His withdrawal was reported on April 17, one day before broader coverage of the double absence. (atptour.com) The tournament runs from April 20 to May 3 at Caja Mágica in Madrid, making it one of the last major clay-court stops before the French Open in late May. The event is the fourth ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the season. (mutuamadridopen.com, atptour.com) Alcaraz’s absence hits the event hardest in Spain because he is a two-time Madrid champion and one of the tournament’s biggest draws. The official tournament site said his 2022 title run included wins over Rafael Nadal and Djokovic on clay in the same event. (mutuamadridopen.com) Djokovic’s withdrawal removes a seven-time Grand Slam champion from a field that had been marketed with him among the headline names. The Madrid Open homepage had listed Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek among its stars before the withdrawals. (mutuamadridopen.com) The timing matters because both players are trying to build match rhythm on clay before Roland Garros. BBC Sport said the injuries have disrupted their preparation for next month’s French Open. (bbc.com) Madrid still has top-ranked players in the field, but the men’s draw loses its home favorite and one of the sport’s biggest names before the first ball is struck. The next question is whether either player returns in time for Rome or goes straight to Paris. (nbcsports.com, mutuamadridopen.com)