Madrid 2024 Preview: Alcaraz aims to defend title as Djokovic misses out

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faces a tough challenge in Madrid as he looks to overcome injury doubts and defend his title, with world number one Novak Djokovic missing out on the tournament. The absence of Djokovic opens up the field for other top seeds like Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev to make a strong push for the title.

Alcaraz, who has had a rocky clay court season due to injury, will have to navigate a difficult path to the final, facing tough opponents like Lorenzo Musetti, Andrey Rublev, and potentially Alexander Zverev. Despite his injury concerns, Alcaraz remains determined to put up a fight and retain his Madrid crown.

Meanwhile, top seed Jannik Sinner will be looking to continue his dominant season on a surface that hasn’t been his strongest. With a relatively favorable draw, Sinner will be aiming to set up a potential final showdown with Alcaraz.

On the other hand, Daniil Medvedev will be looking to capitalize on an improved clay court season as he aims to reach his first Madrid quarter-final. With a challenging draw ahead, including potential matches against Sebastian Korda and Stefanos Tsitsipas, Medvedev will have to bring his A-game to make a deep run in the tournament.

Lastly, Alexander Zverev, a two-time champion in Madrid, will be looking to bounce back from a poor start to the clay court season and rebuild his confidence. With a tough draw ahead, including potential matches against Borna Coric and Tommy Paul, Zverev will have to be at his best to contend for another title.

With the absence of Djokovic and a competitive field of top seeds, the Madrid tournament promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event. Tennis fans can look forward to thrilling matches and intense competition as the players battle it out for the prestigious title.