The news tennis fans dreaded is now official. Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his withdrawal from Queen''s and Wimbledon 2026, ending his grass court season entirely. The world number two has been sidelined with tenosynovitis in his right wrist since the first round of the Barcelona Open on April 14.
"My recovery is going well and I''m feeling much better, but unfortunately I''m still not ready to compete," Alcaraz stated. A measured message that barely conceals the frustration of a player who had made Centre Court his kingdom over the past two years.
Alcaraz''s absence from Wimbledon sends shockwaves through the sport. The two-time defending champion in 2023 and 2024, and last year''s finalist against Jannik Sinner, has not missed two consecutive Grand Slams since 2019. His earlier withdrawal from Roland-Garros had already rattled the tour, and this latest announcement confirms the severity of his condition.
The ranking implications are significant. Alcaraz stands to lose 3,800 of his 11,960 ATP ranking points over the next eight weeks. Without competitive matches since mid-April, the lack of match rhythm compounds his physical concerns.
The target is now clear: return to competition during the American hard court swing this summer, with the defence of his US Open title in August as the ultimate goal. Since winning the Australian Open in January, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets, Alcaraz has played just three tournaments. A stop-start season for one of the most electrifying players in the game.
Men''s tennis loses its biggest grass court draw at the very moment Sinner appears untouchable. The Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry that lit up the tour over the past two years will have to wait until late summer to resume.
