Jannik Sinner faces unusual situation in Madrid: “A tough pill to swallow”

April 24, 2026 Oliver Obel

Jannik Sinner heads into the Madrid Open as one of the clear favorites, but the build-up to the tournament has been shaped by the absence of two of the sport’s biggest names.

Both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have withdrawn due to injury, leaving a noticeable gap at the top of the draw and shifting expectations around the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Sinner acknowledged the unusual situation in comments reported by TNT Sports, noting that the tournament is missing familiar rivals.

“Last year he (Carlos Alcaraz, ed.) didn’t play, and at the same time Novak is not here either. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the tournament,” Sinner said.

He added that their absence changes the dynamic of the competition.

“It’s difficult when Carlos and Novak are not part of the draw. It’s a unique situation, because we have shared the court in many tournaments.”

With two leading contenders out, the spotlight falls even more heavily on the world number one, who will begin his campaign in the second round against either Benjamin Bonzi or Titouan Droguet.

Despite the favorable conditions, Sinner’s preparation has not been entirely straightforward. The Italian arrives in strong form, having won 17 consecutive matches since his quarterfinal exit at the Qatar Open in February, dropping just one set in that span. However, he has also dealt with fatigue in recent weeks.

According to Tennis365, Sinner has approached the tournament with a measured mindset, balancing immediate ambitions with longer-term goals.

“I feel good, and now we prepare as best as we can. The plan is to play and compete as well as possible, and I take it day by day. I have Roland Garros in mind, where I will try to be in the best possible shape. So I’m here to do my best,” he said.

The Madrid Open remains one of the notable titles missing from Sinner’s résumé, and the current draw may offer a strong opportunity to change that. If he advances as expected, a third-round meeting with Denmark’s Elmer Møller could be on the cards.

Sources: TNT Sports, Tennis365