"Luckily, this tournament doesn’t depend on one player" - Tournament director Feliciano Lopez downplays missing Alcaraz in Madrid while glazing Jodar

Feliciano Lopez is currently enduring his sixth Madrid Open as tournament director. The 44-year-old spoke about running the event while also touching on his fellow countrymen and how they are performing on court, including Rafael Jodar, while assessing the hole that Carlos Alcaraz left with his withdrawal from the event due to a wrist injury.

He was interviewed on the Big T podcast by Mark Petchey and Andrea Petkovic. "So far, we’ve had a great tournament. Honestly, the number of people coming is only getting higher every year. We have Jannik Sinner back after two years—he was injured before and couldn’t play last year—so we’re very happy to have him. And Rafael Jodar—what about this name? Unbelievable."

The news that Alcaraz pulled out for a second year running was a definite blow to the tournament. Their number one talent again missing his home event was not just huge disappointment for him and the tournament, but for the fans who have since spread their support for the other Spanish talents making waves in Madrid.

Lopez acknowledged the concern but emphasised the impact one player can make is minimal. "Luckily, this tournament doesn’t depend on one player. Next year is our 25th anniversary, and tickets are sold far in advance—many were already sold for next year. So it’s more of an emotional shock, especially because Carlos is Spanish, 'our boy,' and he also missed last year. There’s concern, of course."

He was worried when he first saw the extent of the injury. "When I saw it, I knew immediately it didn’t look good," he admitted. "I had a similar issue years ago. The wrist is very tricky—you know how hard it is to recover. I just hope he doesn’t need surgery because that would take longer. But we wish him the best; the most important thing is that he recovers quickly."

Masters and WTA 1000 events have, for the most part, been converted to two week events over the past few years. While it was usually just the Sunshine double of Indian Wells and Miami which spanned this extended time, many tournaments have followed in suit. That includes the tournaments in Madrid and Rome leading towards Roland Garros.

Not just players, but analysts, pundits and fans have shared their dismay surrounding this topic. However, Lopez clapped back by saying the players voted for this themselves.

"I find it interesting that some players don’t like something they voted for. They wanted longer events—more money and more rest between matches. From a big-picture perspective, it’s better: more revenue and more recovery time."

He unquestioned the overall downside to it but was adamant that this was better for the sport. "The downside is spending more time away from home. That’s the main issue. But overall, I think it’s better for the players and for tennis."

The Spaniard backed this argument up by saying he would prefer this as a player, not just as a tournament director. "I think so. It’s easy to say now, but players wanted it. Prize money is increasing, and they voted for that. I understand their concerns, but overall I think it’s positive."

He again reiterated why players feel this way about longer competitions. "Mainly that they spend too much time away from home," he argued. "Playing in the U.S., then Europe—Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome—it’s a long stretch. But when I compare it to the past, like Rafael Nadal winning tournaments back-to-back without rest, I think that was even more demanding."

One of the stories of the Madrid Open has to be Jodar. The 19-year-old's rapid rise on the ATP Tour has been a compelling watch. Winning the Grand Prix Hassan II, the Spaniard has now managed to make it into the quarterfinals of his home event, earning a first top 10 win in the progress against Alex de Minaur.

"I didn’t expect him to be top 30 in the world so quickly—not even in six months," Lopez said. "A year ago, he was ranked around 800 or 900. It’s incredible. What impresses me most is how he handles difficult situations on court. He’s only 19 and hasn’t been in a professional environment long. That composure is amazing."

He will take on the world number one and overwhelming tournament favourite Sinner for a spot in the semi-finals.

Outside of that, other names have also made their impact. "It’s a blessing now to have players like Jodar, Martín Landaluce, and Daniel Mérida—all around 20 or 21," the four-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist stated. "Previously, it was mostly Carlos Alcaraz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina leading the younger generation, while many others were over 30. We needed a stronger ecosystem like we had before."

From the start of something new to the end of a Spanish great. Roberto Bautista Agut announced recently that 2026 will be his last year on tour. He has since played his last match at the Madrid Open as his farewell tour continues.

Lopez was in awe of the career he built. "He’s been a warrior. It wasn’t easy for him to break through—he reached the top 100 at 23—but then had an incredible career. Nearly 15 years in the top 100, a top-10 player, Wimbledon semi-finalist, multiple titles. I really admire him. When I saw him young, I wouldn’t have expected that level of success. It’s been an amazing career."

As stated earlier, the Masters 1000 tournament in the Spanish capital is a popular one. Lopez has been at the helm since 2019 after being announced he would be taking the job in 2017. It is quite the change from being a tennis player, but he has enjoyed his time at the top while learning a whole bunch of new lessons.

"Working as part of a team and making decisions together—that was new for me. As a player, it’s an individual sport and you solve problems on your own. Now, sharing ideas internally is key. Also, dealing with players is different. I know many of them personally, so sometimes you have to say no to people you like. That’s one of the biggest lessons—you cannot make everyone happy, especially with things like scheduling."

Onwards and upwards for the tournament. Lopez gave an insight on the future plans, which very much included a new stadium which would soon be in the world. "Yes, we’re planning a new second court for 2028. Right now, the second court has about 3,500 capacity, and we’d like something closer to 5,000–7,000. Hopefully, we’ll have a new court ready by then," he concluded.