Carlos Alcaraz out of Madrid Open for second consecutive year after injury suffered in Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz is out of the Madrid Open for the second year in a row and will not play in his home tournament after an injury he suffered at the Barcelona Open.

Alcaraz won his opening match winning 6-4 6-2 over Otto Virtanen but required medical treatment for wrist pain and was set to face Tomas Machac in the second round but he had to withdraw in the end.

This provided a bleak one for the Madrid Open who also lost Novak Djokovic just this morning due to injury so now it is Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev who lead the line-up, the latter is into the semi-finals in Munich.

Speaking to the press in Barcelona, he said: "The truth is that it's strange and difficult to sit here for the second time, because I've done this before, and to say that I won't be able to continue in the tournament.

"As everyone could see yesterday in the match, after a return I felt like my wrist gave out and I started to feel discomfort that, little by little, kept increasing during the game.

"It's a situation that I thought I'd felt before and that wouldn't get worse, that it was simply discomfort from the effort of the entire week, but I saw today's exams and it's an injury a bit more serious than everyone expected.

"And the truth is that I have to listen to my body, listen to what's best for me and won't harm me in the future. And that's why I have to withdraw from this tournament, which for me has always been an exceptional tournament, a wonderful tournament, a super special tournament.

"Personally, I never like to give up on any tournament, but this one is especially important to me.

"I have to go back home to start recovery as quickly as possible with my team, with the doctors, with the physiotherapist, and try to be as healthy as possible, as quickly as possible, for the tournaments I have in the future.

"I hope you can see me back on a tennis court as soon as possible."

He faced a race against time to find himself back on the court in time for the Madrid Open and now consecutive years, he has had to pull out of the biggest tournament in his home country which is due to begin early next week.

"There are some news that are 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," wrote Alcaraz in Spanish 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."

The withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz from the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open creates a profound vacuum in the center of the Spanish sporting calendar. For the second consecutive year, the tournament’s poster boy is sidelined, and his admission that the injury is 'more serious than expected' casts a long shadow over the rest of his clay season. The timing is particularly cruel as it coincides with Novak Djokovic’s departure, effectively stripping the draw of its most bankable star power.

Tactically, this shifts the burden of favoritism squarely onto Jannik Sinner, who now faces a significantly less congested path to the title. However, for Alcaraz, the 'wrist giving out' during a return in Barcelona points to a mechanical or structural issue that could have long-term implications for his high-velocity forehand. The focus now shifts from defending home turf to a desperate race against time to be healthy for Roland Garros, as the Spaniard heads home to start a recovery process that is becoming an all-too-familiar ritual during the European spring.