The second clay-court ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the season, the Madrid Open, is right around the corner, and the event has already taken some big blows to its lineup.
Three-time champion Novak Djokovic, who was expected to appear in Madrid after missing the Monte-Carlo Masters, pulled out of the event on Friday.
Djokovic took to social media to explain he is continuing his recovery to be back soon, after dealing with some physical issues.
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Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz‘s chances of featuring in the Spanish capital seem to have decreased after the Spaniard withdrew from the Barcelona Open due to a wrist injury.
Alcaraz sustained the injury in his Monte-Carlo final showdown with Jannik Sinner, whose plans for the Madrid Open have also now been revealed.
Jannik Sinner’s plans ahead of the 2026 Madrid Open
After his triumph in Monte-Carlo, Sinner said he would take ‘two to three days off’ and then evaluate with his team whether or not to go to Madrid.
Now, according to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, it has been revealed that Sinner will fly to Madrid on Saturday night and then decide whether to play the tournament.
Should the world number one feature at the Madrid Open, he will have the chance to make history by becoming the first player to win five straight ATP Masters 1000 events.
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Djokovic won consecutive tournaments between 2014 and 2015 in Shanghai, Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid, but did not feature in Monte-Carlo.
Sinner has emerged victorious in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo, dropping just one set throughout all four events.
The last time he lost at an ATP Masters 1000 event was in Shanghai last year, where he was forced to retire due to severe cramp in his third-round match with Tallon Griekspoor.
A huge opportunity presents itself to the rest of the ATP Tour
With Djokovic ruled out, Alcaraz injured, and Sinner not yet confirmed, a huge opportunity for the rest of the ATP Tour may be about to present itself.
Several stars are looking to close in on the ‘new two’ at the top of the rankings, and will now have a big chance to do so in Madrid.
Ben Shelton, Jack Draper and Joao Fonseca are among the top candidates tipped to catch Sinner and Alcaraz.
Shelton and Draper both clinched maiden ATP Masters titles at the Canadian Open and Indian Wells Open, respectively.
Fonseca, on the other hand, has yet to hoist a Masters trophy, with his best attempt being a quarterfinal finish at the Monte-Carlo Masters earlier this month.
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