Two of the sport’s biggest names will not compete at the Mutua Madrid Open after separate withdrawals citing injury. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic announced they will miss the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.

For Alcaraz it is the second consecutive year he will be absent from his home Masters 1000 tournament. The 22-year-old missed the 2025 edition because of a right leg injury and this week confirmed he will also sit out the Spanish event after withdrawing from the Barcelona Open on Wednesday, citing a right wrist injury.

Alcaraz made a strong start to the clay season by reaching the Monte Carlo final last week, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. That defeat cost him the ATP world No. 1 ranking. He then traveled to Barcelona and told press, “This week is one where I should take a break, but Barcelona is a very special place for me.” He withdrew from the event after winning his opening match. He is next scheduled to compete in Rome and at Roland Garros, where he is the defending champion at the French Open.

On social media Alcaraz wrote: “Some news is incredibly hard to share. Madrid is home, one of the most special places on the calendar to me, and that’s why it hurts so much not being able to play here for the second year in a row,” and added, “It especially hurts not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much. Thanks for your love always and I hope to see you all soon.” He also posted: “Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete @MutuaMadridOpen this year. I’m continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!”

Earlier the same day three-time Madrid champion Novak Djokovic announced he would not play in Madrid, the third time in four years he has missed the event, also absent in 2023 and 2024. “I’m continuing my recovery in order to come back soon,” he wrote. “Hasta pronto! (See you soon!)”

© 2026 Mateo Villalba

Episode 16 of The Big T podcast centers on Jannik Sinner’s win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final and a crossover segment that pairs comedy with tennis.

Nick Monroe and Brad Gilbert open the episode with a breakdown of the Monte Carlo final (1:30), identifying the decisive moments and tactical adjustments that favored Sinner. Monroe relays insight from Sinner’s coach on the game plan, while Gilbert pinpoints missed opportunities for Alcaraz and outlines adjustments he will need moving forward. “Maybe he has started to figure things out, after two wins in a row…he could get on a streak and win five or six in a row. Brad Gilbert, on Jannik SInner”

The hosts also look ahead to the road to Roland Garros and how both players are managing schedules with a potential rematch in Paris in mind (6:10).

A lighter but thoughtful portion of the episode features stand-up comic Matt Rife alongside Chris Eubanks (14:30). Rife describes his first time on court after being invited to try tennis: “Tennis Channel asked me if I wanted to embarrass myself. They were like, ‘have you ever played before?’ I said, ‘not a day in my life.’ So then they brought in the best.” The segment compares performing solo under pressure to competing on court, traces the grind through smaller stages, and debates the greatest of all time in both fields with names like Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic entering the conversation.

Rife observes a key technical challenge: “Much like tennis, it’s not something you can learn in a room by yourself. Matt Rife, on the similarities between comedy and tennis” The episode includes a practical lesson, as Eubanks teaches Rife basics and tests him in live points.

Episode 16 closes with the Code Violations segment (48:00), where Monroe, Gilbert and Geoff Chizever discuss the small habits that frustrate professionals, from lateness to messy locker rooms to odd ways of calling the score.

On the latest emergency episode of the Big T podcast, Paul Annacone, Brad Gilbert and Coco Vandeweghe break down Jannik Sinner’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz in Monte Carlo and what it means for both players.

“Sinner has to create more variety while retaining his shot-selection discipline,” says Annacone, “and Alcaraz has to do the exact opposite. He has to create more shot-selection discipline, while retaining his variety.” That exchange captures the mutual respect and the adjustments both stars are considering. After Sinner’s run — making the Italian only the second player ever to win Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo in the same season — Alcaraz lauded his opponent at the net, during the trophy ceremony, and in press. For now, Sinner has the upper hand.

Listen at the 4:15 mark for Annacone’s thoughts on this, and reaction from the panel.

Annacone and Gilbert also drew on their coaching pasts. Both have coached legendary players and once coached against each other when Andre Agassi, with Gilbert, took on Pete Sampras, with Annacone. With those respective coaches, Sampras led Agassi, 13-8.

Annacone recalled one tournament where, after Pete played Andre, Sampras’ second-serve speed was six MPH faster than during the rest of the event. “I said, why is that? And [Pete] said, well, it’s really simple—because against Andre, I have to.” In that sense, Agassi liberated Sampras’ strength.

Like Sampras, Sinner served brilliantly to win a big final. (Gilbert also compared Sinner to Roger Federer, another “dime server.”) The pressure Alcaraz applies forces responses and helps shape Sinner’s performances.

“Other than the game style,” says Annacone, “Alcaraz is a little bit like Agassi, and Sinner is a lot like Sampras … that’s what makes the rivalry fascinating. Different individuals and fan bases that love them both.” Still, questions linger. “It seems like he’s slipping in this rivalry,” says Vandeweghe. Sinner has now won their last two meetings to improve his record against Alcaraz to 7-10.

Gilbert cautioned against overreacting, but offered a matchup note: “If you keep him to script, maybe just for Sinner, it might help a little bit,” says Gilbert, but “I think the flair and unpredictability is what totally makes him dangerous. You can’t take that away from him, and that natural entertainer that he is.”

Listen to the full episode for more of the panel’s thoughts on this rivalry. New episodes drop every Wednesday.