The tennis world held its breath as Carlos Alcaraz, Spain’s prodigious talent and two-time Madrid Open champion, sent shockwaves through the sport with a candid admission just hours before the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open. “I’m feeling physically off,” the 21-year-old confessed, casting doubt on his participation in the ATP Masters 1000 event, a cornerstone of the clay-court season. Days later, medical tests confirmed the worst: a minor tear in the adductor muscle of his right leg, forcing Alcaraz to withdraw from the tournament he has electrified in recent years. The news, announced on April 24, 2025, has left fans and analysts grappling with concerns about the young star’s health as the French Open looms.
Alcaraz’s 2025 season has been a tale of brilliance tempered by physical setbacks. After a modest start, with a quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, he roared back to form, capturing his first indoor hardcourt title at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam and his sixth Masters 1000 crown in Monte-Carlo. The transition to clay, his favored surface, seemed promising as he reached the Barcelona Open final, showcasing scintillating tennis against Alex de Miñaur and Arthur Fils. But in the final against Holger Rune, Alcaraz’s body betrayed him. Trailing 6-7, 0-2, he called for a medical timeout, revealing discomfort in his inner psoas and adductor muscles. “When you notice a small discomfort, the alarms go off, and it’s a bit difficult to stay focused on playing,” he said post-match, his frustration palpable after a 6-7, 2-6 defeat.
The Madrid Open, where Alcaraz was seeded second and enjoyed a first-round bye, was seen as a chance to reclaim his home tournament. His 2022 and 2023 triumphs, including a historic 2022 run past Rafael Nadal, Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev, made him a fan favorite at the Caja Mágica. Yet, his Barcelona injury lingered. “I’m a little physically down,” he admitted on April 23, after arriving in Madrid. “Tomorrow, my team and I will analyse the medical tests and make a decision.” Despite his determination to compete—“I’m going to do everything possible to play in the tournament”—tests revealed the adductor tear, sidelining him.
The withdrawal, Alcaraz’s second from Madrid in three years after a 2024 forearm injury, will cost him 200 ranking points, further jeopardizing his No. 3 position behind Zverev, who overtook him after winning the Munich Open. “Tenísticamente, me voy de Barcelona con buena sensación, pero físicamente me voy con preocupaciones,” he told reporters, a sentiment echoed by former player Alex Corretja, who warned that Alcaraz was “arriving very tight” for Madrid. With the Italian Open in question and Roland Garros as the ultimate goal, his team is prioritizing recovery. “There are times you have to listen to your body,” Alcaraz reflected, a mature acknowledgment of his limits.
Alcaraz’s absence leaves a void in Madrid, where he was set to face either Yoshihito Nishioka or Zizou Bergs. The tournament, already missing Nadal due to his ongoing hip recovery, now leans on Djokovic, Zverev, and defending champion Rublev to carry the spotlight. Fans, who flooded social media with messages of support, recall Alcaraz’s 24–5 record this season and his unmatched clay-court prowess. “I bow at the feet of Rafa because of what he did week after week,” he recently said, nodding to the physical toll of the clay swing. For now, as Alcaraz heals, the tennis world waits anxiously for his return, hoping the “alarms” in his body soon quiet.