The Madrid Open is in disarray with several high-profile players already pulling out of the Masters event.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will not play Madrid, while Jannik Sinner’s status for the event is still up in the air.
They have been followed by the likes of Taylor Fritz, Arthur Cazaux, Sebastian Korda, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard who have also withdrawn from the event.
Paul Annacone, the legendary former coach of Roger Federer, believes he knows the reason why there have been so many withdrawals.
Paul Annacone questions the ATP schedule
Speaking on The Inside-In Tennis Podcast, Annacone discussed the upcoming schedules of Alcaraz and Sinner.
“Look, if it were me, I would not have Sinner play Madrid. I would have Sinner rest for Madrid and just have him play Rome. If Carlos is not well, I wouldn’t have him play Madrid either,” he said.
Will you still be watching the Madrid Open?
Two BIG withdrawals…
“When they’re that good, they don’t need a ton of reps to feel confident and play great tennis. So, for them, it’s about peaking at the majors.
“Sure, the Masters 1000 are awesome, and they are the cornerstones of the tour. They’re not the cornerstones of the professional tennis game. That would be the majors. And that’s what those guys need to peak for. And the Masters 1000 right behind it.”
Annacone also suggested that part of the reason for so many withdrawals this year could be due to the extended format.
The Madrid Open takes place over 12 days now, rather than a week, which many players have complained about.
“And, unfortunately now, with the Masters 1000s for their lens, it probably isn’t great to know that they’re that many days at them as well. It’s a 12-day event, and it’s 2 weeks basically.
“And everyone’s argument, I’ve heard it a million times, is well, that’s it should be better for them because there are days off. But I disagree totally because I think that if they’re at the event, they’re at the event.
“That’s still more emotional energy spent to trying to prepare to win. Sure, it’s better physically, but two out of three sets for these guys.
“They can handle two out of three sets for five matches or six matches over a week. I was a big believer. I loved the longer 1000s initially, and now I’m like this too much.”
With the clay court schedule already hectic, it appears many of the players have hit a breaking point ahead of Madrid.
Every withdrawal from the 2026 Madrid Open
With three days to go until the event kicks off, eight high-profile players have already withdrawn from the Madrid Open.
The Spanish tournament has lost two of the top five in Alcaraz and Djokovic, as well as a further two more players from the top 50.
When do you think Novak Djokovic will return?
He still hasn't played a match on clay this year…
- Carlos Alcaraz → replaced by Sebastian Ofner
- Arthur Cazaux → replaced by Thiago Agustín Tirante
- Novak Djokovic → replaced by Adam Walton
- Taylor Fritz → replaced by Roberto Bautista Agut
- Sebastian Korda → replaced by Alexander Shevchenko
- Kamil Majchrzak → replaced by Alexander Blockx
- Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard → replaced by Alexandre Müller
- Holger Rune → replaced by Francisco Comesaña
Casper Ruud, who suffered a leg injury at the Monte-Carlo Masters, is also a doubt for the Spanish Masters events.
The mass withdrawals have allowed the chance for the likes of Roberto Bautista Agut to compete, in what is going to be his final-ever Madrid Open.
With Sinner’s status in doubt, too, there could be a major opportunity for a first-time Masters winner in Madrid.
