Madrid Masters
Keys unlocks chaos with late Madrid pullout
Madison Keys unleashed a scheduling earthquake on Friday as the former US Open winner pulled the plug on her Madrid Masters opener shortly before match time.
The American cited illness as she withdrew before her second-round opening encounter with Zhang Shuai in the Spanish capital.
Her replacement, Austrian lucky loser Anastasia Potapova, took full advantage of her stroke of luck, advancing past the Chinese player 6-3, 6-1.
Keys is the sixth major name to pull from the clay event which is being stretched – like most of the other Masters tournaments – to a controversial two-week period despite complaints from players
Others who have quit include two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova, world No. 14 Ekaterina Alexandrova and Brit Jack Draper.
Holder Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both pulled out before the start with injuries, leaving the way apparently clear for Jannik Sinner to bid for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Masters title.
Carlos Alcaraz could miss the entire grass season if a worst-case scenario on his wrist injury comes into play.
The Spaniard has already withdrawn from title defences on clay at Rome and Roland Garros after injuring the wrist this month in Barcelona.
But latest reports from Spain indicate that the world No. 2 could possibly not be back until the start of the US Open run-up next August, possibly at the Cincinnati Masters.
Rome’s La Gazzetta dello Sport broke the bad news on the fitness state of Alcaraz, winner of the last two French Open editions. The paper reported there was no chance for the player to compete either at Queen’s club, London, or Wimbledon, which begins in late June.
Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz reached Wimbledon final 2025 – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd
Jannik Sinner ran his Masters 1000 win streak to 24 straight on Sunday, reaching the fourth round in Madrid 6-2, 6-3 over qualifier Elmer Moller.
The No. 169 Dane was treated during a medical timeout late in the first set for abdominal muscle pain, carrying on to make a match of it against the world No. 1 Italian.
Sinner, who has lost just two sets over the course of his win streak, kept his unforced error count to nine in a 67-minute victory.
“I felt better today than in the first match, the winner said. “I tried to stay calm, and serve well at the important moments. That was the key.”
Sinner now stands four wins away from becoming the first man to win five Masters titles in succession,
He improved this season to 26-2 and next plays the winner from Brit Cam Norrie or Thiago Agustin Tirante.
Iga Swiatek fled the court with tears in her eyes after apparent heat exhaustion forced a retirement in the third set of her third -round match against Ann Li at the Madrid Masters on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded former WTA No. 1 could not go on as she retired trailing 3-0 in the deciding set, with her 34th-ranked American opponent collecting a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 victory.
Swiatek was seen on court by the tournament doctor after she quit in stifling spring heat in the Spanish capital.
The Pole was struggling and down a break in the third when she pulled the plug.
Swiatek took a medical timeout trailing 2-0 in the final set and retired after one more game with gastro issues.
Victory marked the second top 10 win for Li, who achieved her last more than four years ago.
Wimbledon alert for injured Alcaraz
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