The Madrid Open 2024 quarterfinals saw both top two men’s seeds, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, eliminated from the competition within an hour. Alcaraz lost to a motivated Andrey Rublev, and Sinner withdrew due to a hip injury.
Both players were struggling with injuries before the tournament, raising questions about their fitness and availability for the Italian Open with the French Open approaching. Carlos Alcaraz had a delayed start to his clay season after withdrawing from the Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open because of a forehand injury. Despite claiming he was pain-free, he expressed doubts about his forearm. During the Madrid match against Andrey Rublev, his forehand seemed less effective, possibly due to his recent troubles.
World No. 2, Jannik Sinner, had to withdraw from the Madrid Open due to a hip injury. The Italian player was having difficulty with his right hip and decided to take preventative measures before worsening the situation. He and his coaches are currently working on a solution to address the hip injury.
With both Sinner and Alcaraz not in their best physical shape, their participation in the 2024 Italian Open could be doubtful. Both players have experienced injuries at the French Open before, and these new concerns serve as warning signs leading up to Roland Garros.
At the French Open, Jannik Sinner previously injured his left knee during a fourth-round match against Andrey Rublev in 2022. Similarly, Carlos Alcaraz experienced leg cramps during a 2023 semi-final match against Novak Djokovic. Due to their injury history, both Sinner and Alcaraz will prioritize avoiding a similar situation at the 2024 Roland Garros event.
Considering whether Sinner and Alcaraz should compete in the Italian Open before Roland Garros, their participation should depend on their bodies’ condition. In the past, the Italian Open has often been a crucial step towards French Open success. Rafael Nadal’s performance at the event demonstrates how significant form and momentum can be in achieving good results on clay courts. While participating in the Italian Open before Roland Garros has historically been advantageous, both Sinner and Alcaraz must consider their injury history to ensure they don’t take any unnecessary risks before the Paris Grand Slam.
