Carlos Alcaraz is currently facing the toughest rival in sports: his own patience. The two-time reigning French Open champion has indicated he is willing to consider the unthinkable, missing his title defense in Paris, rather than hastening his return from a “serious” right wrist injury.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who has already amassed seven Grand Slam titles, admitted on Monday that while the desire to fight for a hat-trick of Roland Garros trophies is immense, the risk to his future is too high. After withdrawing from both Barcelona and Madrid, the World No. 2 is taking a decisively long-term view of his recovery.
In a bittersweet moment in Madrid, Alcaraz was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, joining the ranks of his idols Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi. However, as he collected the statuette for his landmark 2025 season, the focus was less on his past achievements and more on the protective cast visible on his right arm.
The injury ignited during the Barcelona Open when Alcaraz felt his wrist "give out" on a return. What was initially hoped to be a minor strain has since been revealed as a much more significant setback.
I’d rather come back a little later but in great shape than come back early, rushing around, and unwell. God willing, I have a very long career ahead of me, many years, and pushing myself too hard at this Roland Garros could seriously harm me in future tournaments.
Carlos Alcaraz
Things happen in the professional world. You have to accept them. I need to recover really well if I don’t want it to affect me later on.
Carlos Alcaraz
The next test will be crucial. We've been trying to do everything we can do to make sure that this test goes well. I'm trying to be very patient.
Carlos Alcaraz
While Alcaraz watches from the sidelines, his primary rival Jannik Sinner has decisively seized the momentum. By defeating Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final on April 12, Sinner reclaimed the World No. 1 spot.
If Alcaraz is unable to defend the 2,000 points from his 2025 Roland Garros victory, the gap between the two young icons will widen into a chasm. Last season, Alcaraz was nearly untouchable on the dirt, winning 17 consecutive matches and titles in Rome and Paris. That 2025 Roland Garros final against Sinner is already being hailed as one of the greatest matches of all time.
Home heartbreak: For the second consecutive year, Alcaraz has been forced to miss his home tournament in Madrid (missed last year due to a leg injury).
Record watch: With seven majors at 22, Alcaraz is on a historic trajectory, but the wrist injury represents his first major hurdle involving a "serious" joint issue.
The 11th hour: The French Open begins on May 24. Alcaraz is expected to undergo "crucial" testing in the final week of April to determine his travel plans for Paris.
Laureus legacy: Alcaraz is only the second tennis player this decade to win the Sportsman of the Year award, following his breakthrough win in 2023.
At 22, Carlos Alcaraz understands he is competing for a place in history, not just for success in May. Although missing the French Open would significantly diminish the event’s star appeal and hurt his own ranking, he is sensibly opting to safeguard his health for the long term. If forthcoming medical evaluations do not confirm a full recovery, Paris will be forced to anoint a different champion in 2026.
