Jannik Sinner shows true colours as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz skip Madrid Open | Tennis | Sport

Jannik Sinner says it’s “a very big pity” that both Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have been forced to withdraw from the Madrid Open. It makes the world No. 1 the heavy favourite to lift the trophy at the Caja Magica, but he still believes it’s a big blow for the tournament, and would rather see them in the draw.

Djokovic announced his withdrawal on Friday morning, confirming that he still wasn’t ready to compete as he continues to recover from a lingering injury. A few hours later, Alcaraz also pulled out, having picked up a wrist injury in Barcelona last week. Sinner, meanwhile, comes into the Madrid Open on a 17-match winning streak and is hoping to become the first man to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles.

He’s not lost a match since February, picking up three straight titles in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo. And he was crowned the Paris Masters champion at the end of 2025, making in four in a row at Masters 1000 level. But the top seed in Madrid is feeling the weight of Djokovic and Alcaraz’s absences.

Sinner caught up with Alcaraz at the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday evening, where the Spaniard won Sportsman of the Year, but said they didn’t speak about his wrist injury. “I talked with him. We didn’t talk a lot about this topic. I think it’s also very, very private. But yeah, I think we all saw that he had a [cast] on. Hopefully it can help him to get back as soon as possible,” the world No. 1 said.

“It’s a very big pity to not have him here, and also Novak, the two biggest stars in tennis, you know. So we still hope it’s going to be a good tournament, but of course, not seeing them, it makes a big difference.

“It’s for sure a very tough thing for the tournament. Also, last year, [Alcaraz] didn’t play, so twice in a row, and also Novak not here, it’s tough to swallow for a tournament. It is always different when Carlos and Novak are not in a draw. It’s, I would say, very unique because we have shared since last year a lot of tournaments. But again, in my mind, I also know if I want to play against Carlos, it’s in the final, and the way to the final is very long, and then in the final, everything can happen.”

Sinner came out on top of their latest final at the Monte Carlo Masters, which also allowed him to regain the world No. 1 ranking. While he’s been on a tear of late, Sinner knows it won’t be as easy in Madrid, where he’s never been beyond the quarter-finals. When he reached that stage here in 2024, he withdrew due to injury. He missed the tournament last year while serving a three-month suspension.

The 24-year-old has a bye directly into the second round, where he’s guaranteed to face a qualifier. “I always go, and it will always be, I will go day by day. There are tough challenges in front of me, and starting from the first day against a qualifier, which had already a couple of rounds here, which is really, really good,” he added.

“And then we see, but I’m happy to be here. I’m just trying to figure out how to play here on this surface here in Madrid, and we’ll see.”

There were also concerns that Sinner may skip the Madrid Open. After winning in Monaco, he admitted he need to make a decision about whether or not to play. But he’s here, and he’s the top seed in the draw. “I feel quite good. Obviously very busy, busy schedule,” he smiled.

“Yesterday was also the Laureus evening and, you know, first time for me. It was very nice seeing also other athletes and now, we try to prepare in the best possible way. Let’s see how I’m gonna feel, but the plan is obviously to play and trying to perform in the best possible way, but yeah, we take it day by day. I know in my mind that the most important is Roland Garros. We will try to maximise to be in the best possible shape there. But I’m here trying to do my best, and then we’ll see how it goes.”

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