Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz will not be able to defend his title at the French Open this year. As the Spanish world number two announced on social networks on Friday, a wrist injury to his right arm is forcing him to take a longer break.
“Given the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most sensible thing to do is to exercise caution and not compete in Rome and at the French Open,” Alcaraz wrote on social networks: “It is a difficult time for me, but I am sure that we will come out of it stronger.”
He now wants to “wait for further developments” and then decide when he can return to the court.
Alcaraz also has to cancel the Madrid start
Alcaraz suffered the injury in the first round of Barcelona last week. After his win against Otto Virtanen, he withdrew from the tournament. The Spaniard then had to cancel the current Masters in Madrid due to the injury. Alcaraz will not be at the Masters in Rome either.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner won the French Open in 2024 and 2025. Last year he beat his rival Jannik Sinner in an epic five-set thriller in the final.
Sinner, who has been number one again since April 12th, is now likely to move ahead in the ATP rankings in the coming weeks – even though Alcaraz triumphed at the Australian Open in January. In Melbourne, the Spaniard became the youngest player in tennis history to complete the career Grand Slam.
