Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from French Open with wrist injury

Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the 2026 French Open was confirmed by Roland-Garros and the ATP after the Spaniard said tests on his right wrist showed he should stop and recover. The decision was announced on Friday, April 24, more than four weeks before main-draw play begins in Paris on Sunday, May 24. Roland-Garros said the two-time defending champion had been forced out by a wrist injury, while the ATP said the world No. 2 had ended his 2026 clay season. The absence removes the reigning champion from the men’s draw before the tournament starts. ### When was Alcaraz actually ruled out? Friday, April 24, was the date Alcaraz announced he would not play Rome or Roland-Garros. Roland-Garros published the withdrawal that day and said he would miss the Paris tournament because of a wrist injury. The ATP said the decision followed tests and confirmed he would not compete again on clay in 2026. Saturday, May 23, is the day the withdrawal became a fresh talking point again because Roland-Garros is about to begin. But the official withdrawal itself was not a same-day scratch on the eve of his first match; it had already been in place for about a month. (rolandgarros.com) ### What injury did he have, and what did he say? Roland-Garros said Alcaraz was dealing with a right wrist injury. The ATP said he suffered the injury earlier in April and based his decision on medical tests. Alcaraz said on social media that “the most prudent thing” was not to play in Rome or Roland Garros while waiting to evaluate his recovery. (rolandgarros.com) He added that it was “a difficult time” but said he was sure “we will come out of it stronger,” according to the ATP and Roland-Garros accounts of his statement. ### How did the injury disrupt his clay season? Barcelona was the last event Alcaraz entered before the shutdown of his clay campaign. Roland-Garros said he had already pulled out of Barcelona before his scheduled second-round match and had also decided not to play Madrid before announcing the longer stoppage. The ATP said the injury had forced him out of Madrid and then out of Rome and Roland-Garros. (rolandgarros.com) May 19 brought another setback. The ATP said Alcaraz also withdrew from Queen’s Club and Wimbledon because he was still not ready to compete, even though he said his recovery was progressing. That means the wrist problem has now wiped out not only his title defense in Paris but also his grass-court plans through Wimbledon. (rolandgarros.com) ### What was he missing in Paris? Roland-Garros said Alcaraz was the two-time defending champion and would miss the tournament for the first time since 2021. The ATP noted he had beaten Jannik Sinner in the 2025 final after saving three championship points. (atptour.com) Earlier in 2026, the ATP said Alcaraz completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open. That made his Paris withdrawal more notable because he arrived this season having already added the last missing major to his résumé. ### Who benefits most from his absence? Jannik Sinner enters Roland-Garros as world No. 1, according to the tournament’s player listings. (rolandgarros.com) Roland-Garros’ draw preview said former champion John McEnroe described the men’s field as “Sinner against the field” in Alcaraz’s absence. That is an assessment from McEnroe, not the tournament itself, but it reflects how the draw is being discussed heading into opening day. (atptour.com) Sunday, May 24, is when men’s and women’s first-round main-draw play begins at Roland-Garros, the tournament said in its opening-week schedule. With Alcaraz out, the immediate next step is the start of the Paris draw without the defending men’s champion in the field. (rolandgarros.com 1) (rolandgarros.com 2)