MADRID/WASHINGTON, April 24, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

Two-time Mutua Madrid Open champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the ATP Masters 1000 event on Thursday, citing an adductor injury sustained during the Barcelona final last Sunday.

The World No. 3 and second seed from Spain announced his decision during a mid-day press conference at Caja Mágica.

“In the Barcelona final, I felt something in the left hamstring. I didn’t think that it was that serious,” the 21-year-old Alcaraz said. “I’m really disappointed that I’m not able to play here in Madrid. It is a place that I love playing in front of my people, in front of my family, my friends. They are not able to travel so much, so here is a special place for me.

Alcaraz, who is 28-2 on Spanish clay courts since 2022 and has compiled a 14-1 win-loss record at Caja Mágica, admitted it was a “really difficult decision” to decide not to go ahead and play in Madrid. “I think it is what it is,” he said.

Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from Madrid due to an adductor injury.

Wishing Carlos a speedy recovery ❤️‍#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/hZVFdoeP9a

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) April 24, 2025

“Tennis is really a demanding sport. Playing week after week, so many matches in a row and you have to heal your body sometimes and take difficult decisions,” added Alcaraz, who will turn 22 on May 5. “I will come back stronger. I will come back with a lot of power for the next tournaments. I’m really disappointed [to] not be playing here in Madrid.”

During his loss to Holger Rune Sunday in the final of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Alcaraz received treatment on his upper right leg. Earlier this month, the Spaniard won the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. After compiling a 9-1 record on clay this season, he was hoping to be ready and fit to play Madrid, but it wasn’t meant to be. Alcaraz, who had not practiced in Madrid, said earlier in the week he felt “fine” but was awaiting medical test results to determine whether he would play.

“It was the first year I went really far in Monte-Carlo,” Alcaraz said, “but it was also the first year I lost in the first match in Miami. So, I had time to prepare for the clay season. But it is not easy. A different surface, coming from hard court to clay court and playing so many matches in a row and having no time to rest, is not easy. Tennis players have to take difficult decisions sometimes.”

“I will come back stronger with a lot of power” ❤️‍@carlosalcaraz explains his decision to withdraw from the 2025 #MMOpen pic.twitter.com/zDYgd0c9nF

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 24, 2025

Alcaraz, who has compiled a 24-5 record and won titles at Rotterdam and Monte-Carlo this season, hopes to recover in time to play the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome, which starts May 7. It’s a tournament he missed in 2024 due to an arm injury.

“My plan is going to Rome. My mindset is to do everything it takes to be 100 percent for Rome,” Alcaraz said. “I will do some tests at the beginning of next week just to see how it’s improved and from that let’s see how it’s going to be the next days. My hope is to play in Rome. If not, the next tournament is Roland-Garros for me. So, I will try to be on court as soon as possible.”

Alcaraz’s place in the Madrid draw has been taken by 90th-ranked lucky loser Kamil Majchrzak of Poland, who will face another lucky loser, 78th-ranked Gabriel Diallo of Canada, in the second round.