Carlos Alcaraz has been forced to withdraw from the French Open after sustaining a wrist injury during his first-round match at the Barcelona Open last week. The two-time defending champion in Paris had been tipped to win a third successive title but will now miss both the Rome Masters and Roland Garros.
Alcaraz, 22, lost in the Monte Carlo final to Jannik Sinner before travelling to Barcelona, where he injured his right wrist in a straight-sets victory over Otto Virtanen. Tests prompted his team to advise caution. “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,” Alcaraz said in a statement.
This is the latest in a series of injury setbacks for the Spaniard, who missed much of the 2024 clay-court season with a forearm problem and withdrew from the 2024 Madrid Open due to leg injuries. Despite his success at Roland Garros, injuries have been a persistent issue.
Alcaraz had begun 2025 by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to complete the career grand slam. His absence is a blow to men’s tennis, as his rivalry with Sinner has dominated the tour. “Tennis needs Carlos,” said Sinner after his Madrid win. “I do believe he’s going to come back stronger than before.”
Alcaraz must now decide whether to return for Wimbledon and the grass-court season. Wrist injuries are particularly challenging in tennis, and returning too soon could cause long-term problems. Sinner, who extended his winning streak to 18 matches in Madrid, expressed hope that Alcaraz would recover fully.
