Carlos Alcaraz’s worsening wrist injury has cast significant doubt over his participation at the 2026 French Open, with the world No. 2 unable to confirm whether he’ll defend his title at Roland-Garros starting May 18.
Speaking at Monday’s Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, where he won Sportsman of the Year, Alcaraz appeared with his right wrist completely immobilised in a splint, a reminder of the severity of an injury that has already forced him out of Barcelona and Madrid.
Crucial Tests Ahead
“We’ll see,” Alcaraz said when asked directly about the French Open. “The next test will be crucial. We’ve been trying to do everything we can to make sure that this test goes well. I’m trying to be very patient.”
The 22-year-old Spaniard emphasized that upcoming medical tests in the next few days will determine his course of action, but his words suggested a player preparing for the possibility of missing tennis’s biggest clay court event.
“For now, I’ve been trying to stay positive, to stay upbeat, even though these days have become a bit too long,” Alcaraz told reporters.
More concerning for fans hoping to see the defending champion in Paris was Alcaraz’s insistence that he would not rush his recovery, even if it means missing the French Open.
“God willing, I have a very long career ahead of me, many years, and pushing myself too hard at this Roland Garros could seriously harm me in future tournaments.” Alcaraz said.
The statement represents a significant shift in tone from a player who has powered through injuries before, suggesting the damage to his wrist may be more serious than initially thought.
How It Happened
The injury occurred during Alcaraz’s opening match at the Barcelona Open last Tuesday against Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen. Despite winning 6-4, 6-2, Alcaraz needed medical treatment during the match after feeling his wrist “give out” on a return in the first set.
Initially believing it was simply fatigue from a demanding week, Alcaraz underwent tests the following day that revealed the extent of the problem.
“From today’s tests, it’s a slightly more serious injury than we all expected,” he said.
Mounting Absences
The wrist injury has already cost Alcaraz two significant tournaments on his home soil. He withdrew from Barcelona before his second-round match against Tomas Machac, then announced Friday he would miss the Madrid Open for the second consecutive year.
Hay noticias que cuesta muchísimo dar. Madrid es casa, uno de los lugares más especiales del calendario para mí, y por eso me duele tanto no poder jugar aquí por segundo año consecutivo. Me duele especialmente no poder estar delante de mi gente, en un torneo que es tan especial.… pic.twitter.com/Qr6bznFJod
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) April 17, 2026
The two-time Madrid champion (2022, 2023) has now missed the Spanish capital event in both 2025 and 2026 due to injuries, first with a hamstring issue last year and now with his wrist problem.
Impact on Rankings and Clay Season
Alcaraz’s potential absence from Roland-Garros would be a massive blow to the tournament and to tennis. The Spaniard has won the past two French Open titles, including a memorable five-hour comeback victory over Sinner in last year’s final.
He recently lost the world No. 1 ranking to Sinner following his Monte Carlo final defeat. The Spaniard entered the clay season defending a massive 4,300 points, making it extremely difficult to reclaim the top spot even without injury.
With Madrid already out of the equation, Alcaraz’s next potential tournament would be the Italian Open (May 4-17), assuming his wrist heals in time. However, missing significant preparation time on clay would leave him severely undercooked for a French Open title defense.
The clay court season represents Alcaraz’s strongest surface, where he has captured eight of his 26 career titles. His record at Roland-Garros is particularly impressive: two titles in two appearances as the defending champion, including victories over Djokovic (2024) and Sinner (2025).
Sinner to Dominate?
Alcaraz’s absence would open the draw considerably for Sinner, who has yet to win the French Open (the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection). The Italian has lost to Alcaraz in the past two Roland-Garros finals and would become the huge favorite in the French Open betting if his rival cannot compete.
The potential absence also means tennis fans could be deprived of another chapter in the sport’s most compelling rivalry. Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 11-9, but Sinner won their most recent encounter in Monte Carlo to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking.
Timeline and Next Steps
With the French Open beginning May 18 – just four weeks away – time is running critically short for Alcaraz to heal and prepare adequately. The upcoming test results will be decisive, but the player’s own words suggest he’s prepared to sit out rather than risk long-term damage.