Mutua Madrid Open:Federer and Djokovic Withdraw From The Tournament

Mutua Madrid Open: Federere and Djokovic Withdraw From The Tournament[/b]

The 2014 Madrid Open is a professional tennis tournament that will be played on outdoor claycourts at the Park Manzanares in Madrid, Spain from 3–11 May. It will be the 13th edition of the event on the ATP World Tour and 6th on the WTA Tour. It is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2014 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2014 WTA Tour. Ion ?iriac the former Romanian ATP player and now billionaire businessman is the current owner of the tournament. Defending champions in men's and women's singles respectively are Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

Federer had confirmed after last month's Monte-Carlo Masters that he may be forced to miss a large chunk of May in order to be with his wife Mirka for the arrival of their next child. The 17-time Grand Slam champion had been scheduled to face Gilles Simon in round two of this week's Madrid Masters, but has now let tournament officials know he will no longer be competing in the Spanish capital. Federer's return date could now be the subject of some speculation after the Swiss failed to reveal when he might be back in action. The 32-year-old looks all but certain to miss next week's Rome Masters and could even decide to sidestep the French Open, which starts on May 25th.

Writing on his Facebook page, Federer said: I've decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family. World No. 2 Novak Djokovic has been forced to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open, having suffered a recurrence of the right arm injury that afflicted him three weeks ago in Monte-Carlo. I am very sorry for the Madrid tournament and all the Spanish fans to have to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open, said Djokovic on Sunday. I did everything possible in order to play in Madrid, which is one of the biggest events of the year, but unfortunately my right arm injury has flared up again.

Now I will take some time to recover and heal my injury, hoping I will be ready for Rome. I look forward to returning to Madrid next year. Djokovic had been hoping to recover in time to challenge for his second Madrid crown, having triumphed three years ago (d. Nadal). His next tournament, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, begins Sunday, 11 May.

 

[Simran Rai]

Mutua Madrid Open: Federer and Djokovic Withdraw Due to Personal and Injury Reasons


The Mutua Madrid Open, a major clay-court event in the tennis calendar, faced two significant withdrawals as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic announced their non-participation. The tournament, held at Park Manzanares in Madrid, is a key stop on both the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and the WTA Premier Mandatory circuit. This development shifts the spotlight toward other top contenders like Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, the defending champions.


Roger Federer withdrew from the tournament to stay with his wife, Mirka, during the expected arrival of their child. Federer made the announcement via his official social media, confirming that family commitments take precedence. Although no specific return date was mentioned, there is growing speculation about his participation in the upcoming Rome Masters and even the French Open. Federer had previously indicated that he might skip some tournaments in May, which has now been confirmed with his Madrid absence.


Novak Djokovic also pulled out of the tournament due to a recurring right arm injury. The injury had earlier affected his performance in Monte Carlo, and despite extensive efforts to recover, Djokovic confirmed that the issue has resurfaced. The withdrawal comes as a precautionary measure to allow proper recovery before attempting a return at the Rome Masters. Djokovic expressed his disappointment but also reaffirmed his intent to return stronger.


The absence of two top-ranked players has shifted the dynamics of the men's draw. Rafael Nadal, a dominant force on clay, emerges as a stronger favorite, while other players such as Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, and rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz gain increased attention. In the women’s draw, the focus remains on Serena Williams, but the field remains competitive with several high-ranking contenders.


The Mutua Madrid Open continues to be a marquee event on the tennis calendar, despite these high-profile withdrawals. Organizers and fans alike remain optimistic as the tournament promises compelling matches and breakout performances in the lead-up to the French Open.​