Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the French Open due to a right wrist injury sustained during his first-round match at the Barcelona Open. The 22-year-old Spaniard, a two-time champion at Roland Garros, had been favoured to win his third successive title in Paris.
Alcaraz injured his wrist in a straight-sets victory over Otto Virtanen before pulling out of the Barcelona Open the following day. In a statement on social media, he said: “After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros as we wait to evaluate the progress so we can decide when to return to the court. This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of it stronger.”
The injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for Alcaraz, who missed much of the 2024 clay-court season with a right forearm issue and withdrew from last year’s Madrid Open with leg injuries. He had started 2025 by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to complete the career grand slam.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who beat Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo Masters final, expressed concern for his rival. “I think what’s most important is to say that, first of all, tennis needs Carlos. Tennis is a much better sport when he’s around,” Sinner said. “I do believe he’s going to come back stronger than before. But injuries are always tough, especially a wrist.”
Alcaraz now faces a race to be fit for Wimbledon and the grass-court season, which begins immediately after the French Open. Wrist injuries are particularly challenging in tennis, and returning too soon could lead to long-term problems. Meanwhile, in Madrid, Sinner extended his winning streak to 18 matches, while Cameron Norrie was the only British player to advance in singles.
