With just under a week to go until the Madrid Masters, there have been two high-profile withdrawals on the ATP side.<\/p>\n
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic \u2013 both former champions \u2013 have opted out of the event after revealing that they are still in recovery from their respective injuries.<\/p>\n
In other news, Toni Nadal has clarified Rafael Nadal\u2019s position on coaching after he was seen alongside a practising Iga Swiatek at his academy.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the top tennis stories from Friday.<\/p>\n
Alcaraz opts out of Madrid after Barcelona scare<\/p>\n
With at least a week to go before his scheduled opening match at the Madrid Masters, it was assumed that Alcaraz<\/a> would wait for a few more days before making a decision on his participation.<\/p>\n At the Barcelona Open, he suffered wrist pain during his first match and appeared sorrowful in his withdrawal press conference \u2013 stating that it was \u2018more serious than we thought\u2019 after undergoing a scan.<\/p>\n The six-time Grand Slam champion was equally candid in his Instagram message, adding that \u2018it hurts so much not to be able to play here [Madrid] for the second year in a row\u2019.<\/p>\n READ: Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from the Madrid Masters as injury concern grows \u2013 \u2018It hurts me\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Djokovic continues his tour hiatus <\/p>\n Djokovic\u2019s appearances on the ATP Tour have been few and far between, competing in just two events since early October.<\/p>\n The Serb produced a sensational level of tennis at the Australian Open, defeating two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals before falling in a four-set match to Alcaraz.<\/p>\n He opted to rest until the Indian Wells Masters and \u2013 once there \u2013 displayed an up-and-down level of tennis (losing to Jack Draper in the fourth round).<\/p>\n Since his appearance in the Californian desert, he has withdrawn from both the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters, as well as \u2013 most recently \u2013 the Madrid Masters.<\/p>\n On Instagram, he remained tight-lipped about the reason for his tour absence, stating: \u2018I\u2019m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon\u2019<\/p>\n READ: Novak Djokovic\u2019s next move up in the air as he issues 23-word Madrid Open message<\/a><\/p>\n Latest Tennis News<\/p>\n Former world No 1 reveals why Carlos Alcaraz lost to Jannik Sinner in Monte Carlo<\/a><\/p>\n Alarm bells ringing for Alex Eala as she looks to make a step up to the big time<\/a><\/p>\n Toni Nadal silences Nadal coaching rumours<\/p>\n Nadal hung up his professional tennis racket for good in November 2024, ending a glittering 23-year career.<\/p>\n Since then, he has largely stayed out of the limelight and welcomed a second child last summer.<\/p>\n However, rumours were sparked after he was spotted alongside Swiatek, who was practising at his academy alongside her new coach, Francisco Roig.<\/p>\n Roig coached Nadal for nearly two decades and replaced the six-time Grand Slam champion\u2019s former coach Wim Fissette.<\/p>\n However, Toni Nadal \u2013 the tennis legend\u2019s uncle \u2013 has shut down rumours that the Spaniard would ever coach by saying that \u2018his life is set up for other things.\u2019<\/p>\n