Carlos Alcaraz says he will not rush return from wrist injury for the French Open

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion in men’s singles at the French Open, might not get a chance to make it three in a row.

During a news conference Monday for the Laureus Awards in Madrid, where the 22-year-old was named Sportsman of the Year, Alcaraz said he would not rush his return from an injury to his right wrist in a bid to play the 2026 edition, which starts May 24.

“I have a very long career ahead of me, with many years still to come. Forcing things at this Roland Garros could really harm me for future tournaments,” Alcaraz said in Spanish.

” … We’ll see how it goes. As I said, I’d rather come back a little later but in good shape than come back too soon, rushing things and not at my best.”

Alcaraz, whose cast for immobilizing the injury poked out from under his tuxedo as he spoke, pulled out of the Barcelona Open last week. That came a day after he received treatment on his wrist during a first-round win over Finland’s Otto Virtanen.

He then withdrew from this week’s Madrid Open, which finishes May 3. Between the Madrid Open and the French Open lies the Italian Open, in Rome, where Alcaraz is also the defending champion.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion said in an interview Monday he is awaiting tests to determine his availability for the French Open.

“The next test will be crucial, so we’re trying to do everything we can to make sure it goes well. Just being patient,” Alcaraz said in Spanish.

“I’m trying to be very patient these days, but we’re doing okay, we’re here, waiting for some tests in the coming days, and from there we’ll see how the injury is and what the next steps will be. For now, I’m just trying to stay positive and keep my spirits up, even though these days feel long.”

Alcaraz is no stranger to injury, especially at this point in the tennis calendar. He missed the Madrid Open last year because of an injury to his right adductor, and was returning from a muscle injury in his right forearm at the 2024 edition. But the world No. 2 has only missed one Grand Slam tournament since the start of 2021: the 2023 Australian Open, which he missed with a right hamstring injury.

His absence at the French Open would leave the field wide open for his great rival Jannik Sinner, whom Alcaraz beat in a final for the ages last year and who recently beat Alcaraz at the Monte Carlo Masters to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking. The French Open is the only major title Sinner needs to complete the career Grand Slam.

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