The Carlos Alcaraz French Open withdrawal has been confirmed ahead of the 2026 tournament, with the defending champion pulling out due to a wrist injury. The event is scheduled to begin on May 18 at Roland Garros in Paris.
Alcaraz announced on Friday that he would not compete, ending hopes of a title defence after weeks of uncertainty surrounding his fitness.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the 2026 French Open after failing to recover from a wrist injury sustained earlier this month. The Spanish star had already missed key clay-court tournaments, and medical advice led him to skip Roland Garros to focus on recovery.
Wrist Injury Forces Carlos Alcaraz Out of Roland Garros
The Carlos Alcaraz French Open withdrawal follows a series of setbacks caused by a wrist problem picked up during the Barcelona Open.
He suffered the injury in a first-round match and withdrew shortly after, raising concerns about his readiness for the clay season. Since then, Alcaraz has not returned to competitive play and has withdrawn from:
- Madrid Open
- Italian Open
- French Open
The decision to skip Roland Garros followed medical evaluations confirming he was not fit to compete at full intensity.
Before the injury, Alcaraz had been in exceptional form. He began the year by defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final. That victory made him the youngest player in history to complete a career Grand Slam, underlining his rapid rise in men’s tennis.
Despite his absence from recent tournaments, he attended the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid earlier this week, wearing a wrist support. At the ceremony, he was named World Sportsman of the Year, highlighting his impact on the sport even during injury struggles.
Read: Jannik Sinne Indian Wells Title Win Cuts Gap to Carlos Alcaraz
Top-ranked players and clay-court specialists stand to gain the most, as one of the strongest contenders is no longer in the draw. This increases the chances for other seeds to progress deeper into the tournament.
With the Carlos Alcaraz French Open withdrawal confirmed, attention now turns to his rehabilitation timeline and whether he can return in time for the upcoming grass-court season.
