Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Madrid Open, as doubts persist over whether Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner will compete in the Spanish capital.

Djokovic is a three-time winner of the clay-court, ATP 1000 Masters event, having triumphed there in 2011, 2016 and 2019.

But the 38-year-old is being selective with his schedule for 2026 and was forced to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters after suffering a shoulder injury.

The Serbian also skipped the Miami Open, having lost to Jack Draper in the fourth round at Indian Wells. 

His absence from Madrid means he will miss three consecutive ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, with next month's Italian Open representing the next chance for him to play competitive tennis ahead of Roland-Garros starting on May 18.

In a post to X, Djokovic wrote: "Madrid, unfortunately I won't be able to compete this year. I'm continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!"

Djokovic has not committed to remaining on the tour beyond the end of this year, but Madrid's tournament organisers expressed hope he could feature in 2027.

A short statement read: "We hope to see you back here as soon as possible so we can enjoy your tennis, as we have done so many times in the Caja Magica."

And Djokovic may not be the only big-name absentee in Spain, as there are doubts over the participation of the world's top two players, both of whom also missed the 2025 edition.

Alcaraz, who was injured for the 2025 Madrid event, withdrew from the Barcelona Open earlier this week, having sustained an elbow issue in a first-round win over Otto Virtanen.

Sinner, meanwhile, cast doubt upon his involvement after beating Alcaraz in the Monte-Carlo final, saying he would take a few days off before deciding whether to travel. 

The Italian, who is now back at the top of the ATP World Rankings, missed last year's Madrid Open as he served a three-month doping ban.

The men's singles tournament in Madrid starts next Thursday, with the final taking place on Saturday May 2.