Carlos Alcaraz Pulls Out of Madrid

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, April 17, 2026
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook

The Mutua Madrid Open has lost significant Spanish star power.

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz officially withdrew from next week’s Mutua Madrid Open today as he continues recovery from the right wrist injury that forced him to pull out of Barcelona after his opening-round win over Otto Virtanen.

Reigning Australian Open, Roland Garros and US Open champion Alcaraz announced his departure from the Madrid field today.

“There’s some news that [is] 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 X. “It hurts especially not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much. Thank you for the unwavering affection, and I hope we see each other soon.”

Hay noticias que cuesta muchísimo dar. Madrid es casa, uno de los lugares más especiales del calendario para mí, y por eso me duele tanto no poder jugar aquí por segundo año consecutivo. Me duele especialmente no poder estar delante de mi gente, en un torneo que es tan especial.… pic.twitter.com/Qr6bznFJod
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) April 17, 2026

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz joins Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic, a three-time Madrid champion, in withdrawing from the event. The Mutua Madrid Open is set for April 20th-May 3rd.

Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete @MutuaMadridOpen this year. I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) April 17, 2026

After he pulled out of Barcelona this week, Alcaraz said the right wrist injury he sustained was more serious than he initially thought.

“It’s strange and difficult to sit here for the second time and communicate that I won’t be able to continue in the tournament,” the 2025 finalist Alcaraz told the media in Barcelona. “As you could all see, yesterday in the match after a return my wrist beat me and I felt a discomfort that gradually got worse.

“It is a situation that I had already felt previously and that I believed was not going to go any further, that it was only a demand for the whole week.

“But looking at the evidence today, it is a slightly more serious injury than we all expected. I must listen to my body, what suits me best, that it does not affect me in the future.”