Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis phenom and 2023 Roland Garros champion, has sent ripples of concern through the tennis world after withdrawing from the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open due to an adductor muscle injury. The announcement, made on April 24, 2025, came just days after the two-time Madrid champion admitted to feeling “physically off” following a grueling runner-up finish at the Barcelona Open. Adriano Panatta, the 1976 Roland Garros champion, has pointed to Alcaraz’s relentless schedule as a key factor in his recent physical struggles, igniting a broader conversation about the toll of modern tennis’s demanding calendar on its brightest stars.
Alcaraz’s 2025 season has been a showcase of his prodigious talent, but also a test of his physical limits. After a quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, he claimed titles at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam and the Monte-Carlo Masters, marking his sixth Masters 1000 triumph. His clay-court campaign continued with a deep run in Barcelona, where he dazzled against Alex de Miñaur and Arthur Fils before falling to Holger Rune in the final, 6-7, 2-6. It was during this match that Alcaraz’s body sounded alarms. Trailing in the second set, he took a medical timeout for discomfort in his right adductor and inner psoas 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 usual spark dimmed by physical strain.
Panatta, reflecting on Alcaraz’s withdrawal from Madrid, suggested the young Spaniard’s packed schedule is to blame. “I read that the Spaniard complained that the Masters 1000 lasts two weeks, but let’s look carefully at his schedule,” the Italian legend remarked. “After Monte-Carlo, he went to Barcelona, then he will do Madrid, Rome, and Paris.” The back-to-back tournaments, coupled with the physical demands of clay-court tennis, have pushed Alcaraz to the brink. His withdrawal from Madrid, where he was seeded second and set to face either Yoshihito Nishioka or Zizou Bergs, will cost him 200 ranking points, widening the gap with World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who overtook him after winning the Munich Open.
The Madrid Open, a homecoming for Alcaraz, feels the weight of his absence. His 2022 victory—where he toppled Rafael Nadal, Djokovic, and Zverev in succession—and 2023 title defense made him a Caja Mágica icon. “I’m a little physically down,” he admitted upon arriving in Madrid, hoping medical tests would clear him to compete. But a minor adductor tear, confirmed after analysis, forced his hand. “I’ve been working hard to recover until the last minute, but it’s not possible, and I cannot play,” he said, echoing the frustration of his 2024 Madrid withdrawal due to a forearm injury. His team now eyes the Italian Open and Roland Garros, where he hopes to defend his 2023 title.
Alcaraz’s 24–5 record this season underscores his brilliance, but injuries—an ankle issue in Rio, a forearm problem in 2024, and now the adductor tear—highlight the risks of his ambition. “Tenísticamente, me voy de Barcelona con buena sensación, pero físicamente me voy con preocupaciones,” he told reporters, balancing pride in his play with worry about his body. Panatta’s critique resonates with fans and analysts, who see the ATP’s grueling schedule as a threat to young stars. “There are times you have to listen to your body,” Alcaraz noted, a lesson he’s learning under pressure.
As Madrid unfolds without its hometown hero, the tennis community rallies behind Alcaraz. His admiration for Nadal—“I bow at the feet of Rafa because of what he did week after week”—reflects his understanding of the clay season’s toll. With Djokovic, Zverev, and Andrey Rublev carrying the tournament’s spotlight, Alcaraz’s recovery becomes the sport’s quiet drama, as fans await the return of their fearless champion.