Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Madrid Open due to injury, but remains hopeful of being fully fit for the French Open.
The world number three reached the final in Barcelona last week but was beaten by Holger Rune, and revealed he injured his hamstring and groin during the second set of that match.
Alcaraz will now not compete in Madrid as planned, with the focus instead on returning to full fitness before the action begins at Roland Garros on May 25.
“During the Barcelona final, I hurt the adductor muscle in my right leg, but I also felt something in the hamstring of my left leg,” Alcaraz said.
“We’ve tried everything to improve, but it hasn’t been possible. We’ve discussed with the team whether he could play safely, but we have to listen to our bodies.”
He added: "The tennis that I've played in the past few weeks has been great. Mentally I think I'm strong to play good tennis again, so this is not going to take my confidence away.
"If I don't play Rome, or if I don't play any tournaments before Roland Garros, I don't care about it.
"I know what is my level, I know what I have to do to play good tennis."
Alcaraz is a two-time winner of the Madrid Open, having lifted the trophy in 2022 and 2023, before being beaten in the quarter-finals by Andrey Rublev last year.
The Spaniard has been in fine form as he builds towards the French Open, having won the Monte-Carlo Masters earlier this month before backing it up with a strong run in Barcelona.
Alcaraz remains the favourite to defend his title at Roland Garros, after winning the tournament for the first time last year with victory over Alexander Zverev in the final.
Jannik Sinner is expected to be among the main threats to Alcaraz, though the Italian remains banned from the sport after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency over two positive drugs tests last year.
The world number one is expected to make his competitive return in Rome next month.
