As I’m sure you have already seen, world no 3 Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the 2025 Madrid Open, nursing a left leg hamstring injury from the Barcelona Open final. The 21-year-old Spaniard, a two-time Madrid champ, is now focused on getting back for his French Open title defense next month. Meanwhile, his Netflix docuseries, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, hit screens on April 23rd.
Hamstring Issue Keeps Him Out of Madrid
Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the Madrid Open, where he won in 2022 and 2023, came after a left hamstring injury flared up during his 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 loss to Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final on April 20. He also mentioned a minor right adductor tweak, but the hamstring seem to be the main worry. “I couldn’t practice the entire week and found out I had hamstring and groin injuries,” he said at a Madrid press conference. “I needed to listen to my body.”
Some fans and media outlets had already hinted he might skip Madrid, noting he wasn’t practicing. This isn’t new for Alcaraz, who missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona in 2024 with a forearm injury but still won Roland Garros. Sitting out Madrid seems like a smart call to avoid pushing his body too soon, especially with the clay season in full swing.
Netflix Series Has Fans Talking
While out with this injury, Alcaraz is still a hot topic among fans as his Netflix series Carlos Alcaraz: My Way was just released. The three-episode show, produced by Morena Films, follows his 2024 season, where he snagged French Open and Wimbledon titles plus an Olympic silver. You’ll see him chilling in Murcia with family or joking about hitting up Ibiza before winning Queen’s and Wimbledon, a peek at how he balances tennis with a normal life.
Some critics call it a bit too polished, like most athlete docs, but fans are eating up moments like Alcaraz sneaking away at Wimbledon to watch Spain’s Euro 2024 matches. The series racked up 1.2 billion impressions, thanks to a clever stunt where Alcaraz signed a camera lens at Indian Wells. “It was interesting to show this side of the story over the course of a full season, with good moments and bad,” he said. It’s a solid watch for tennis nerds waiting for his return.
This is one of the now famous quote from the series, when asked if he has the mindset to become the greatest of all time. If this is his true beliefs no-one knows though.
“Right now, I don’t know,” he says. “I would prefer to put happiness before any kind of accomplishment, because happiness is an accomplishment.”
French Open 2025: Can He Defend His Title?
With the French Open starting May 25, 2025, Alcaraz’s injury puts his title defense under the microscope. Last year, he powered through a forearm issue to win in Paris, beating Alexander Zverev in five sets and becoming the youngest guy to win majors on all three surfaces at 21. This year’s clay season kicked off with a Monte Carlo title, but Barcelona and Madrid show the tour’s physical toll.
He’s eyeing the Italian Open in Rome (May 6–18) for a comeback but isn’t sweating it if he misses it. “If I don’t play any tournaments before Roland Garros, I don’t care about it. I know what is my level,” he said. His 24-5 record in 2025, with titles in Monte Carlo and Rotterdam, plus leading the ATP Live Race, gives him reason to be confident.
Still, it won’t be easy. Jannik Sinner, likely back from a doping ban, and Novak Djokovic, who topped Alcaraz at the 2025 Australian Open, are tough on clay. Rune’s Barcelona win also shows the next gen stepping up. Skipping Madrid is the right move to save his body for Paris. Alcaraz’s explosive game and love for the clay grind still make him one of the early favorites to go deep at the French Open, maybe even repeat as champ, if he’s back to full speed.
