2025-04-25T00:08:37Z

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Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has officially announced his withdrawal from the Madrid Open, citing concerns over hamstring and groin injuries. This decision comes as Alcaraz prepares for his title defense at the upcoming French Open, which is set to take place next month. His exit from the tournament has left fans in dismay, particularly those who were eager to watch the home favorite perform at the iconic Caja Magica venue in Madrid.

On the same day, three Australian players faced early exits from the tournament. Aleksandar Vukic suffered his tenth consecutive defeat after losing to Japan's Kei Nishikori with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Nishikori celebrated his own milestone by achieving his 450th tour-level victory, expressing a desire to reach the 500-win mark before he hangs up his racket. Vukic's current slump has been dishearteningthe 29-year-old, currently ranked 83rd in the world, has not enjoyed a winning moment since a Davis Cup match in January, where he defeated Bjorn Borg's son, Leo.

Meanwhile, Rinky Hijikata also faced disappointment, bowing out of the tournament in the first round against American player Reilly Opelka in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5. This marks Hijikata's fourth straight defeat in the tour, further complicating his season as he seeks to regain his competitive edge. As for the Australian women's contingent, Maya Joint fell short in her match, leaving Daria Kasatkina as the sole representative for Australia in the women's singles category.

Alcaraz had received a bye into the second round of the Madrid Open and was scheduled to face Gabriel Diallo from Canada before his withdrawal. Despite the setback, the 21-year-old expressed hope to participate in the Rome Masters 1000, taking place from May 7 to 18, where he aims to recover from his injuries and continue his pursuit of dominance on clay courts. Notably, world number one Jannik Sinner is also expected to make a return during this tournament following his suspension for a doping violation.

As the tournament progresses, Australian fans are looking toward their remaining players. Alex de Minaur, seeded sixth, is set to compete against Italian player Lorenzo Sonego, while Alexei Popyrin, the 25th seed, will face the unpredictable Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan. Chris O'Connell is also in the mix, preparing for a challenging second-round match against third seed Taylor Fritz. The Australian contingent is eager for a turnaround in fortune as they compete in one of the premier events in the lead-up to the French Open.