Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from French Open as wrist injury ends hopes of Roland Garros title defence
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz denied the chance to defend his French Open title due to wrist injury; Watch the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Friday 24 April 2026 19:34, UK
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of next month's French Open due to a wrist injury.
The world No 2 announced his withdrawal on Friday in a post on social media.
"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," Alcaraz said.
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It means that the seven-time Grand Slam champion won't get the chance to defend his title at Roland Garros, one he secured in such thrilling fashion when coming out on top of an epic tussle against Jannik Sinner last year.
Alcaraz saved three championship points before retaining the French Open with a stunning 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) victory in one of the greatest finals ever played - the marathon contest lasting five hours and 29 minutes!
Alcaraz wrestled the world No 1 spot back from Sinner by also winning the US Open for a second time in 2025, while his maiden Australian Open title earlier this year saw him become the youngest to complete the career Grand Slam, aged 22 and 258 days.
Sinner returned to the summit of the men's game with victory over Alacaraz in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month, two days before the Spaniard had his wrist treated during his opening win over Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open.
Alcaraz was ultimately forced to withdraw from the tournament, as well as the Madrid Open, but had spoken on Monday of still holding out hope of playing in Paris.
"We'll see," he said at the Laureus awards, where he was named Sportsman of the Year. "The next [medical] test will be crucial."
Sadly for Alcaraz, the results have ultimately ruled him out of the second Grand Slam of the year, as well as Rome in the build-up to Roland Garros.
Alcaraz's withdrawal paves the way for Sinner to also complete the career Grand Slam. The Italian has won the Australian Open twice, Wimbledon last year and the US Open in 2024.
Sinner learned about Alcaraz's withdrawal during his post-match interview after beating Benjamin Bonzi in the second round of the Madrid Open.
"It's sad for tennis," Sinner said. "Me being a competitor, I always want to play against the best in the world and he definitely is the best in the world here on this surface [clay].
"I wish him to recover as fast as possible."
'Huge missed opportunity for Alcaraz'
Sky Sports Tennis' Naomi Broady on Alcaraz's French Open withdrawal:
"You have to feel for him. It's one of his first really big, impactful injuries.
"Firstly, we were saying how we felt sorry for him having to miss Madrid, the biggest tournament in his home country. But then to follow that up with missing Rome and Roland Garros as well, that's really going to hurt.
"It shows how serious the injury is that he's having to miss a Grand Slam.
"It's a huge missed opportunity for him and gives Sinner the chance to pull away [as world No 1]."
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