"I'm feeling physically off": Carlos Alcaraz's worrying statements just a few hours before Madrid Open

Carlos Alcaraz has endured a somewhat underwhelming start to the 2025 season, claiming just one title so far—at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. However, the transition to clay courts appears to have reignited his spark.

While he didn’t quite reach the heights of his peak form, the Spaniard managed to secure his maiden title at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, a tournament in which he had barely played prior to this year.

Alcaraz then made his way to Barcelona for the Conde de Godó, where he showed signs of sharpening his game. His performances in the quarterfinals against Alex de Miñaur and in the semifinals against Arthur Fils were particularly encouraging. Yet in the final, physical issues hampered his level, and he was comfortably beaten by Holger Rune, 6-7, 2-6.

Attention now turns to the Mutua Madrid Open, the next event on Alcaraz’s calendar and one he has won twice before. It’s a crucial opportunity to close the gap on Jannik Sinner in the rankings and build momentum ahead of Roland Garros. But his participation remains in doubt. “I’m feeling a bit physically off,” he admitted during an appearance on El Hormiguero on Wednesday, April 23. “Tomorrow, my team and I will analyze the medical tests and make a decision. I’ll do everything I can to play the Mutua Madrid Open.”

As the No. 2 seed in Madrid, Alcaraz enjoys a first-round bye and is scheduled to begin his campaign on Saturday, April 26, against the winner of the match between Belgium’s Zizou Bergs and Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. The additional rest days could prove pivotal in determining whether he competes or opts to prioritize recovery ahead of Rome and, more importantly, the French Open. It's a delicate balance: the desire to perform on home soil versus the need to protect his fitness for the bigger challenges ahead.