Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his French Open title. The Spaniard announced on social media his decision to skip the Italian Open and Roland-Garros, sidelined by a right wrist injury that brings a brutal end to his clay-court season.
"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, while we wait to assess the evolution to decide when we will return to the court," the world No. 2 wrote. "It's a complicated moment for me, but I'm sure we'll come out stronger from here."
The injury surfaced during the Barcelona Open, where Alcaraz was forced to retire from his second-round match against Tomas Machac. Tests revealed tendon inflammation and cartilage damage in the right wrist. Doctors are recommending rest rather than surgery, keeping a grass-court return in play.
The absence reshapes the tour landscape. Alcaraz won Roland-Garros in 2024 and again in 2025, saving three championship points against Jannik Sinner in a marathon final lasting over five and a half hours. The dream of a third consecutive title evaporates. Since Gustavo Kuerten in the early 2000s, no one had achieved the Paris treble. Alcaraz, at twenty-two, appeared poised to rewrite history.
The ranking fallout is severe. The young Spaniard stands to lose approximately three thousand ATP points as the defending champion, a gap that could see him slide behind rivals like Alexander Zverev and Sinner.
For the Roland-Garros draw, the impact is immediate. The bracket opens without its two-time defending champion, potentially clearing a path for Sinner. Organizers lose one of their biggest draws, the player who electrified Philippe-Chatrier two years running.
The grass season remains the target. Reports from Spain suggest a gradual return to training in the coming weeks. Halle or Queen's in early June, then Wimbledon: Alcaraz has not abandoned his ambitions for the second half of the season. The wrist will have the final say.
