The concern surrounding Carlos Alcaraz has reached alarming new heights. Feliciano Lopez, Madrid Open tournament director and former tour professional, delivered a chilling warning on Sunday: the Spaniard could miss not only Rome but also the French Open, where he was set to defend his title for a third consecutive year.
"Madrid no, Rome seems almost impossible, and hopefully he will make it to Roland-Garros," Lopez said, speaking from painful personal experience. The former left-hander suffered a similar wrist injury during his career and recalls being sidelined for eight weeks. "When it happened to me, I could barely hold my racket for several days after the match," he revealed on Spanish television.
The world number two injured himself on April 14 during his opening round in Barcelona against Finland's Otto Virtanen. After hitting a forceful forehand, he felt a sharp pain in his right wrist that steadily worsened. What initially appeared to be minor discomfort proved far more serious after medical examinations. Alcaraz was recently photographed with his right wrist fully immobilized in a rigid splint, images that sent shockwaves through the tennis world.
The 22-year-old, speaking to LA 1, made no attempt to downplay his concerns. "I cannot give a timeline for my return. I would rather come back later and in top condition than rush back and not be ready." A strikingly cautious statement from a player usually quick to reassure fans about his fitness.
The French Open, scheduled from May 24 to June 8, remains Alcaraz's target, but time is running dangerously short. Further medical tests taken last week have been described as "crucial" by his medical team. If results confirm a serious ligament issue, the two-time defending champion may have to write off his entire clay season, a scenario unthinkable just ten days ago.
Jannik Sinner, already the overwhelming favourite in Madrid without Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, would see his path to total circuit domination open up even further. The Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry that the entire tennis world anticipated under the Parisian sun may simply not materialize this season, robbing Roland-Garros of its most anticipated showdown since Federer-Nadal.
