Tournament director Lopez expects Nadal and Alcaraz to play at Mutua Madrid Open despite Monte-Carlo withdrawals

Madrid Open tournament director expects Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz to play at the event despite their recent withdrawals leaving the future uncertain.

Both Nadal and Alcaraz withdrew from Monte Carlo for reasons that don't seem likely to go away overnight and it's left a bit of uncertainty regarding their future. Both players will want to play at Roland Garros but all other events are less important including the Madrid Open. Neither will miss it intentionally and Lopez expects both to play:

"I trust that Nadal and Alcaraz will do well in the next tournaments. Hopefully, Carlos will play with Djokovic again in Madrid and we will also have Rafa, who if he is healthy, will surely fight again for the big titles. In 2023, there is no clear favourite on clay."

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Both played last year and they played against each other with Alcaraz emerging as a winner. Neither Lopez nor fans would mind a rematch in Madrid this year.