Carlos Alcaraz out of Madrid Open after admitting injury ‘more serious than expected’

Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Madrid Open due to injury. The Spaniard withdrew from the Barcelona Open this week, citing a problem with his right wrist . The 22-year-old also missed the Madrid Open last season due to a right leg injury , meaning he has been forced to miss his home tournament in the Spanish capital for a second year in a row.

“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,” Alcaraz posted on social media. “It hurts especially not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much.

” Alcaraz lost in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters to rival Jannik Sinner last Sunday before sustaining the wrist injury in his first-round victory over Otto Virtanen two days later in Barcelona. The seven-time grand slam champion, who will begin the defence of his French Open title next month, told reporters that the injury “is more serious than any of us expected” and said he would “need to listen to my body” to avoid further damage. Alcaraz lost his No 1 ranking to Sinner with his defeat in the Monte Carlo final and he had no ranking points to defend in Madrid, having missed the tournament last season.

He will target a return at the Italian Open in Rome next month, where he is defending champion. Earlier, Novak Djokovic confirmed he had withdrawn from the Madrid Open, the third consecutive Masters event he had missed since his last-16 defeat to Jack Draper at Indian Wells in February. He posted on social media on Friday: “Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete at the Madrid Open this year.