In the clay court season all roads lead to Paris: Roland Garros It’s everyone’s big goal. However, on the way to the French capital, there are very important stops. Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, for example. After the first two, it’s the turn for the best players in the world to be introduced to Madrid Open 2023.
The requirement suggested by the ATP circuit, which has action every week, is wearing down and causing injuries to players. For this reason, several heavyweights have announced that they will not be in Spain. Next, Sports news shows that will not be competing in this very special week.
Who is not playing in Open Madrid 2023?
The most resonant name among the absentees is Rafael Nadal. The left-handed, five-time Madrid Open champion announced his retirement just weeks before the start of the tournament amid speculation of a possible comeback. The 22 Grand Slam winner has not played since losing in the second round of the Australian Open. Recovery times for his muscle ailments took longer than expected.
Nor will it be novak djokovic, number 1 in the world. The Serb, who lost early in both Monte Carlo and Banja Luka, is nursing one shoulder and has opted to rest to get to 100% at Roland Garros, where he will go after his 23rd Grand Slam. That left Carlos Alcaraz as the top seed.
Jannik Sinner, 8th in the ATP rankings, is the other top 10 who will not be appearing in Madrid. The Italian has been enjoying good weeks on clay but has decided to end his programme. Rome, apart from Roland Garros, is a priority for the tano.
Carlos Alcaraz, the big favorite
With the absences already mentioned, Carlos Alcaraz appears as the top contender to retain the title. The Murcian already knows what it’s like to win in Madrid: he beat Alexander Zverev in the 2022 final.
Other favorites to win the trophy are Kasper Rudd, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Ruhn. A step further behind is Daniil Medvedev, even though he was the second seed. The Russian is no expert on the surface and has yet to win any titles on it. In Barcelona 2019 he played his only final (lost to Dominic Thiem).
In this link you can follow all the programming of the Madrid Open 2023.
