The tennis world was rocked on April 24, 2025, when Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open champion and two-time Madrid Open winner, announced his withdrawal from the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open due to persistent injuries. The 21-year-old Spaniard’s absence from the Caja Mágica, where he has captivated home fans with his explosive play, opened a fresh chapter of intrigue in the clay-court season. Among those reflecting on the news was Italian star Lorenzo Musetti, the world No. 11, whose heartfelt response blended empathy for his rival with a steely resolve to seize the opportunity in Madrid. Fresh off a thrilling Monte Carlo Masters final against Alcaraz earlier that month, Musetti’s comments revealed both camaraderie and competitive fire.
Alcaraz’s withdrawal stemmed from a right adductor muscle tear sustained during the Barcelona Open final, compounded by a newly disclosed left hamstring issue. “It’s really a pity…” Musetti remarked, his tone heavy with genuine concern for the Spaniard’s plight. “Carlos is an inspiration for us,” he had said in a previous encounter, a sentiment that echoed as he processed Alcaraz’s latest setback. The Italian, who faced Alcaraz in a grueling Monte Carlo final on April 13, understood the physical toll of their high-octane rivalry. That match, a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 loss for Musetti, saw him hampered by a leg injury, prompting Alcaraz to express sympathy: “It is not the way I would have wanted to win a match… I feel sorry for him.” Now, with the tables turned, Musetti extended similar goodwill, wishing Alcaraz a swift recovery while acknowledging the void left by his absence.
Yet, Musetti’s empathy was tempered by ambition. The 23-year-old, who soared to a career-high No. 11 ranking after Monte Carlo, where he toppled top-10 players Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur, sees Madrid as a chance to make his mark. “I have to take revenge on him, and we hope that this tournament or the next one could be a good tournament,” he declared, his words laced with determination. Musetti’s lone victory over Alcaraz came in the 2022 Hamburg final, a 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 epic that remains a career highlight. Since then, Alcaraz has dominated their head-to-head 4-1, including a straight-sets win at Roland Garros in 2023. “I will try to come back for the revenge,” Musetti had quipped after Monte Carlo, a vow he now carries into Madrid, where he aims to reach his second Masters 1000 final.
Musetti’s comments also touched on the broader implications of Alcaraz’s absence. “It’s a pity that Alcaraz is not in Madrid, because Nadal has reason: if he’s healthy, he’s the favorite,” he said, referencing Rafael Nadal’s earlier assertion that a fit Alcaraz is nearly unbeatable on clay. With Alcaraz sidelined, the Madrid draw opens up, and Musetti, seeded No. 11, is poised to capitalize. His clay-court pedigree—highlighted by a 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medal and a 2023 Monte Carlo upset over Novak Djokovic—makes him a dark horse. “I’ve reached some of my goals,” Musetti noted after Monte Carlo, eyeing a top-10 breakthrough. “We are close enough to keep fighting, keep dreaming.”
The Italian’s Madrid campaign begins against a qualifier, with potential clashes against top seeds like Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev looming. Despite his disappointment over Alcaraz’s withdrawal, Musetti remains focused on his game plan, drawing on his versatile one-handed backhand and deft clay-court movement. “At the beginning of the week, I was dreaming to be in the final,” he had said in Monte Carlo, a mindset he brings to the Spanish capital. His ability to paint the lines under pressure, as seen in his 7-6(4) third-set tiebreak win over de Minaur, fuels optimism for a deep run.
As Musetti prepares to step onto the Madrid clay, his reaction to Alcaraz’s announcement encapsulates the duality of elite tennis: respect for a rival’s struggle and hunger for personal glory. “Of course, I wanna thank Carlos for sharing the court… always a lesson,” he said after their Monte Carlo clash, a sentiment that resonates as he wishes Alcaraz well while plotting his own ascent. With the French Open on the horizon, Musetti’s Madrid performance could redefine his season, proving he’s ready to challenge the sport’s giants—whether Alcaraz returns or not.