Reigning two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz has been officially ruled out of the 2026 French Open, dealing a significant blow to his season and the upco
Reigning two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz has been officially ruled out of the 2026 French Open, dealing a significant blow to his season and the upcoming clay-court Grand Slam.
On Friday, April 24, 2026, in the afternoon, the Spanish superstar announced his withdrawal from both the Italian Open and Roland Garros, citing a lingering right wrist injury sustained earlier in the month.
Alcaraz, who reached the final of the Barcelona Open on April 14 before withdrawing, stated that further medical tests indicated that the most prudent decision was to skip the key European clay-court events to prioritise full recovery.
The 22-year-old, who was spotted wearing a wrist brace at the Laureus World Sports Awards earlier this week, expressed deep disappointment at being unable to defend his title in Paris. “After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing is to be cautious and not participate in Rome and Roland Garros,” Alcaraz wrote in a social media update, adding that it is a “complicated moment” but he is determined to return stronger.
The injury is a major setback in his pursuit of a third consecutive French Open title, following his epic victory over Jannik Sinner in the 2025 final.
Alcaraz’s withdrawal drastically changes the landscape of the 2026 clay-court season, with fellow rival Jannik Sinner now likely to enter Roland Garros as the top seed and favourite.
With this being the third straight year Alcaraz has faced significant injury challenges during the peak clay-court season, the decision to withdraw highlights his need for caution against long-term damage.
While his absence is a major loss for organisers, it prevents the further aggravation of a wrist complaint that has hampered his high-intensity playing style.
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