World No. 1 Novak Djokovic from Serbia has withdrawn from the upcoming Madrid Open, making Jannik Sinner the No. 1 seed at the event that begins on April 26th. Djokovic’s last appearance in the tournament took place in 2022, where he was defeated by eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic semifinal. Despite Djokovic’s withdrawal, Rafael Nadal, the Serb’s longtime rival, is set to participate in the tournament, possibly for the last time in his career.
At 36 years old, Djokovic is likely focusing solely on Grand Slams. He has a strong record at the Italian Open and hopes to play in it as preparation for the French Open. Nadal, who is a five-time champion in Madrid, will face stiff competition from younger players like Sinner, Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. With past victories against Nadal at Manolo Santana Stadium in Madrid, these rising stars pose a significant challenge to the 37-year-old Spaniard.
Given that Nadal is an unseeded player, he will have to face top seeds early on in the tournament. However, if he can maintain his fitness, Nadal remains a tough opponent on the clay surface. He will have to navigate through tough challenges from younger players, as well as prevent any potential injury recurrence that could jeopardize his participation in the upcoming French Open.
Djokovic has historically fared better on the faster clay courts in Madrid compared to Nadal. Nadal usually dominates Djokovic on clay, but the Serb has defeated him twice in the Madrid Open finals, in 2009 and 2011. Nadal did win against Djokovic in the 2017 Madrid Open semifinal, on his way to secure his fifth title. Unfortunately, tennis fans will miss out on another potential clash between these two greats in Madrid this year.
