In a gut-wrenching turn of events, Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old tennis sensation and two-time Madrid Open champion, announced his withdrawal from the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open on April 24, sending shockwaves through the tennis world. The Spanish superstar, a home-crowd favorite, revealed that lingering injuries from the Barcelona Open final—a right adductor muscle tear and a newly disclosed left hamstring issue—forced him to prioritize his health over competing in one of his most cherished tournaments. With the French Open title defense looming, Alcaraz’s decision, though painful, reflects his maturity in navigating the grueling demands of professional tennis.
Alcaraz’s clay-court season had been a whirlwind of triumphs and challenges. Fresh off a commanding victory at the Monte Carlo Masters in April, where he clinched his first title of the season, the world No. 3 carried a nine-match winning streak into the Barcelona Open. There, he reached his third career final at the ATP 500 event, facing Denmark’s Holger Rune. But the match took a toll. During the second set, Alcaraz required multiple medical timeouts, visibly struggling with discomfort in his right adductor muscle. “The second set started with long rallies, intense rallies … I felt something in my right adductor which set alarm bells ringing,” he recalled after the 7-6(6), 6-2 defeat. Despite pushing through, he also felt a troubling sensation in his left hamstring, a detail he revealed only during his Madrid press conference. “You all saw that the physio came in to treat my right adductor muscle in the Barcelona final, but I also noticed something else in my left hamstring,” he said, underscoring the unexpected double blow.
The decision to withdraw from Madrid, where Alcaraz won in 2022 and 2023, was agonizing. The Caja Mágica holds a special place in his heart, not only as a stage for his past triumphs but as a childhood memory. “Madrid is one of the most special tournaments for me, it’s a tournament that I enjoy, I get to play in front of my fans,” he shared, his voice tinged with disappointment. “It was one of the first tournaments I attended when I was a kid.” Yet, after consultations with his team and doctors, and following an MRI scan on Monday, the risks of playing were clear. “I was talking with my team, with the doctors, to see if I would be able to arrive to play in Madrid in good condition. I did everything possible to be able to play … But I wasn’t able to improve things enough,” he explained. “We took the decision not to take risks for the future.”
Alcarazers, as his fans affectionately call themselves, felt the sting of his absence, especially amid the buzz surrounding his Netflix docuseries, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, launched that week. Alcaraz had been a whirlwind of activity, balancing promotional appearances with recovery efforts, including a lighthearted moment on El Hormiguero where he hinted at his physical struggles. “I’m a little bit tired physically,” he admitted, yet remained hopeful about competing. However, the reality of his injuries for his body dictated otherwise. “Tennis is really a demanding sport,” he said, reflecting on the sport’s relentless schedule. “Playing week after week, so many matches in a row, and you have to heal your body sometimes and take difficult decisions.”
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is focused on recovery, with his sights set on the Italian Open (May 7–18) and his French Open title defense starting May 25. “Next Monday I’ll have another test to see how the injury has progressed,” he noted, cautiously optimistic. “I think I’ll be back training in a week or two.” His confidence in returning for Roland Garros remains high, buoyed by his 24-5 record this season, including titles in Monte Carlo and Rotterdam. “I don’t want to take anything for granted. We’ll definitely be at Roland Garros, and we’ll try to be there in Rome,” he asserted, determined to reclaim his form.
Alcaraz’s withdrawal opens opportunities for others, with Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak replacing him in the Madrid draw and Novak Djokovic eyeing a chance to gain ground in the rankings. Yet, for Alcaraz, the focus is clear: health first. “If I play here, I could make the injuries worse and stop for several months and that’s not worth it,” he said, a testament to his long-term vision at just 21. As he navigates this setback, his resilience and charisma continue to captivate, ensuring that when he returns, the tennis world will be watching.