The Mutua Madrid Open 2026 has been rocked by withdrawals from two high-profile players just as the main draw was set. Amanda Anisimova (world No. 6), known for her runner-up finishes in majors, cited a wrist injury, and Ekaterina Alexandrova (No. 14) pulled out over lower back troubles.
Quick adjustments followed. Greece’s Maria Sakkari slots into the No. 33 position vacated by Alexandrova, while Poland’s Magdalena Frech assumes Anisimova’s No. 34 seed in the bottom section—a spot where Anisimova was seen as a quarterfinal threat.
Both replacements enjoy first-round byes. Their scheduled foes, Jania Czech and Katerina Siniakova, pivot to battles against survivors from qualifying or lucky losers, with pairings drawn post-qualifiers.
Anisimova’s last match was a Miami fourth-round exit against Belinda Bencic, followed by a mystery injury withdrawal from Charleston. Alexandrova, fresh off a two-week layoff, went 0-2 recently: out in Linz to Karolina Pliskova and Stuttgart to Linda Noskova, all amid back woes that also hit Charleston.
A wave of other absences compounds the drama. Sonay Kartal (GB) skips clay entirely due to back issues. Varvara Gracheva (FRA) is done after an ACL tear in March practice. Maya Joint (AUS) sits out with back pain, Emma Navarro battles ongoing illness, and Emma Raducanu plus Marketa Vondrousova join the sidelines.
La Caja Magica now hosts 96 ambitious contenders in this grueling WTA 1000 clay showdown. The Manolo Santana Stadium will host climactic clashes as elite players vie for glory on the red dirt.
Aryna Sabalenka, the title defender, dreams of a record fourth Madrid crown—a milestone that would make her the tournament’s greatest WTA champion ever.
