Djokovic, Alcaraz play the waiting game for Paris

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are locked in a countdown to fitness as the top 5 pair battle to be ready to compete again when the Rome Masters starts in a fortnight.

But anything but a perfectly timed recovery will mean that multiple Grand Slam champions won’t be back on court until Roland Garros starts in just over a month.

Djokovic, who has not played since mid-March when he lost in the Indian Wells fourth round to Brit Jack Draper while carrying a shoulder injury, may have foreshadowed his own recovery troubles as he presented awards in Madrid on Monday at the Laureus event.

“I’m doing everything in my power to recover and participate in Rome, but I can’t say anything now, it all depends on how fast the recovery from the injury progresses.” the 24-time Grand Slam champion said.

Both men are missing from this week’s start of the Madrid Masters, where world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is bidding for history by winning a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 trophy.

Alcaraz is equally uncertain of his return after quitting last week’s Barcelona home event with a wrist injury which may or may not heal in time to defend his titles in both Rome and Paris.

“We will see. The next scan will be decisive, so we are doing everything possible to ensure everything goes well. I am trying to be patient,” he Spaniard said.