Djokovic out of Madrid Open; finalists found in Barcelona, Stuttgart

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of next week’s Madrid Open, organisers said on Sunday, with the world number one joining Rafa Nadal on the sidelines.

Djokovic, who was unable to play in the U.S. hardcourt swing earlier this year because he has not been vaccinated against COVID, was preparing for the clay season but got knocked out early at the Monte Carlo Masters and Banja Luka Open.

“I didn’t feel well on the court, my legs were slow and my footwork was torpid, many missed shots, totally without direction,” said the 35-year-old Serb after his quarter-final defeat by Dusan Lajovic at the Banja Luka event.

Djokovic said, however, that he was still hopeful of finding his groove on clay before next month’s French Open.

“Wishing you a speedy recovery, we hope to see you back on court as soon as possible, Nole,” organisers said in a statement without giving any details on Djokovic’s condition.

Nadal announced earlier this week that he would miss the Madrid tournament after a setback in his recovery from a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open in January.

The two players share the record for most Grand Slam titles, with 22 each. The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, begins on May 28.

BARCELONA OPEN

World number two Carlos Alcaraz reached the final of the Barcelona Open after beating Briton Daniel Evans 6-2 6-2 on Sunday to set up a showdown with fellow top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas who defeated Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 5-7 6-3.

Alcaraz, who had an injury-plagued start to the season and was beaten in the semi-final of last week’s Miami Open by Jannik Sinner, was unstoppable against Evans, even as he appeared to be conserving his energy for the claycourt season.

The 19-year-old Alcaraz broke early in the first set and closed it 6-2 in 38 minutes. He raced to 4-1 in the second and beat Evans in 80 minutes to reach the final in Barcelona for the second consecutive year.

World number five Tsitsipas had a more complicated challenge against Musetti, surrendering a break in the third game. However, he managed to fight back and clinch the first set 6-4 after winning three consecutive games.

The Greek player quickly moved to 5-3 and had the opportunity to serve for the match, but collapsed under pressure, allowing Musetti to fight back and win the second set 7-5.

Musetti came close to a break point in the first game of the decisive set, but Tsitsipas kept his composure and went on to comfortably close out the match.

Tsitsipas will try to claim his first ever win against Alcaraz, who in December became the youngest year-end No. 1 in the history of the ATP.

Alcaraz defeated Tsitsipas in the 2021 US Open and in last year’s Miami Masters and Barcelona Open.

STUTTGART OPEN

World number one Iga Swiatek moved into the Stuttgart Open final on Sunday after her opponent Ons Jabeur retired injured three games into the first set.

The Pole on Sunday will face Aryna Sabalenka in a repeat of last year’s final, following the Belarusian’s comfortable straight sets victory over Anastasia Potapova.

Tunisian Jabeur, on a seven-match winning run after recovering from injury and surgery earlier this year, looked to have hurt herself during the last point of the first game.

The world number four, fresh from her title win in Charleston earlier in the month, took a medical timeout but despite playing on with her left calf bandaged for two more games she decided to stop with Swiatek 3-0 up.

“I really tried but at that point I don’t know what happened,” a tearful Jabeur said. “I was excited to play Iga and seeing that the stadium is full. I am sorry about it.”

Australian Open winner Sabalenka needed just 58 minutes to storm into her third straight Stuttgart final with a 6-1 6-2 demolition of Potapova.

– Reuters