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The 2023 Madrid Open - a claycourt event since 2009 - starts on April 26 at the Caja Magica. It's a combined ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament, meaning the creme de la creme of both tours will descend on the Spanish capital for nearly a fortnight.
Both the men's and women's events will have 96-player draws this year. However, a few top players will be conspicuous by their absence across both draws, with the men's side in particular being robbed of a fair bit of star power.
So without further ado, here's a look at the five big names (in no particular order) who will not feature at the 2023 Madrid Open at the Caja Magica next week:
#1 Matteo Berrettini
Former Top-10 player Matteo Berrettini is one of the top players who will not feature at this year's Madrid Open.
The World No. 22 suffered a grade 2 tear in his internal oblique last week, which forced him to pull out of his Monte-Carlo last-16 clash with Holger Rune. On Friday, Berrettini announced on social media that his rehabilitation process had started in Barcelona but that he would have to miss the Madrid Open.
The 27-year-old posted on his Instagram story:
"The intense rehab program has begun with my medical team in Barcelona. I will do everything I can to be back competing as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I will not be able to compete in Madrid. I will keep you all updated when I have more news. Grazie for all the support."
The Italian is 7-6 on the season and has a 4-1 record in Madrid, reaching the final in his last appearance in 2021.
#2 Rafael Nadal (five-time Madrid Open winner)
Rafael Nadal is another big-name player who will miss the Madrid Open next week.
In fact, the former World No. 1 hasn't played since injuring his hip during a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open. Due to a setback in his rehabilitation, Nadal missed both Monte-Carlo and Barcelona and will now not feature in Madrid either.
The five-time winner said in a video published on social media:
“The last few weeks and months have been difficult. As you know, I picked up a significant injury in Australia, to my psoas. First it was going to be a six to eight-week recovery period. We’re in the 14th week, and the reality is that the situation is not what we expected.
He continued:
“In any case, I have followed the medical advice but the progress has not been as they told us at the beginning. We find ourselves in a difficult situation, the weeks are passing by.
"I was excited to play in the most important tournaments in my career such as Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros. So far, I’ve missed Monte-Carlo and Barcelona and I also wanted to tell you that I won’t be able to be in Madrid.”
Nadal, currently ranked No. 14 in the world, is 1-3 on the season.
#3 Novak Djokovic (three-time Madrid Open winner)
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will miss the 2023 Madrid Open too. Although no reason for his withdrawal has been mentioned, the Serb apparently has an issue with his right elbow.
Djokovic lost to Dusan Lajovic in the Sprska Open quarterfinals earlier this week and subsequently said that he wasn't in optimum condition to play the Madrid tournament. In a tweet, Madrid organisers wished the 35-year-old a speedy recovery:
"DjokerNole is unable to compete at the #MMOPEN Wishing you a speedy recovery, we hope to see you back on court as soon as possible, Nole."
Djokovic is a three-time winner in Madrid, with a 30-9 record. He made the semifinals last year (lost to eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz).
#4 Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, will be another high-profile absentee at the Madrid Open next week.
The Australian hasn't played competitively this year at all due to a knee injury. His manager Daniel Horsfall told SEN Breakfast in February:
“[Knee] surgery went great, to be honest, we couldn’t have asked for a better result. We’re all pretty pleased, the team is ready to go, when he’s ready, we’re ready. He’s in a knee brace at the moment, he only has movement up to about 70 degrees."
Kyrgios' injury hasn't healed enough for him to participate at the Madrid Open. Interestingly, the World No. 24's last appearance at the tournament was in 2019. He has played only one claycourt event since then.
#5 Belinda Bencic
Belinda Bencic is a confirmed absentee from the women's draw at the Madrid Open next week.
Grappling with a hip injury since March, the Swiss player has withdrawn from both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open. She is, however, hoping to recover in time for Roland Garros.
Bencic wrote on her Instagram story:
"Hi everyone, I just wanted to provide you all with a quick update that I, unfortunately, will be missing both Madrid and Rome in the next few weeks. I have some discomfort on my hip, which I struggled a bit with during the US Open swing as well and need to take a little rest and recover to be back at 100% before Roland Garros."
Bencic has a 20-6 record this year.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
