The two-time defending champion will miss Roland Garros for the first time since making his debut, shutting down his clay campaign after test results revealed the severity of his wrist problem.
Carlos Alcaraz has officially withdrawn from the 2026 French Open and the remainder of the clay court season, confirming Friday that his right wrist injury requires more rest rather than rushed recovery.
The world No. 2 announced the decision on social media after receiving test results that showed he wouldn’t be able to compete at the level required to defend his title in Paris.
“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland-Garros, while we wait to assess the evolution to decide when we will return to the court,” Alcaraz wrote on Instagram.
“This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of it stronger.”
The wrist problem first surfaced during Alcaraz’s opening match at the Barcelona Open on April 14, when he needed medical treatment on his right wrist and forearm during a first-round victory over Otto Virtanen. Despite winning that match, he felt his wrist “give out” on a return and withdrew from the tournament the following day.
Medical tests revealed the injury was “more serious than expected,” leading to his withdrawal from Madrid, the second consecutive year he’s missed his home
No chance for three consecutive Roland Garros titles
The 22-year-old has won the past two French Open titles, including an epic five-hour, 29-minute comeback victory over Jannik Sinner in the 2025 final – the longest French Open final in history, where he saved three championship points.
He won’t get the chance to become the first man since Rafael Nadal to win three consecutive Roland Garros titles. It’s only the second Grand Slam Alcaraz will miss in his career, having previously withdrawn from the 2023 Australian Open with a hamstring injury.
Sinner’s reaction
Sinner, who learned of Alcaraz’s withdrawal during his post-match interview at the Madrid Open Friday, expressed sympathy for his rival.
“It’s sad news for all of us, me being a competitor you want to play against the best players in the world, and he’s definitely the best player on this surface,” Sinner said. “Being that young like he is and like I am, we need to look at our bodies first before worse things [happen].”
The Italian now becomes the big favorite at Roland Garros – the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection. Sinner has lost to Alcaraz in both the 2024 and 2025 French Open finals, including that marathon 2025 clash where he held championship points.
What’s next for Carlitos?
The French Open runs May 24 to June 7, meaning Alcaraz has five weeks to recover before grass season begins.
Alcaraz’s team will monitor his recovery before deciding when he returns to competition. The Spaniard is defending 4,300 points from his dominant 2025 clay season, meaning his ranking will drop significantly when those points come off in the coming weeks.
More on Alcaraz and his racquet.