Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his title at Roland Garros 2026. The tennis player from Murcia has confirmed that he will not compete in the Paris Grand Slam or the Rome Masters 1000 after the latest medical tests, which confirm a right wrist injury that he has been carrying since the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
The decision implies the renunciation of the entire clay court tour, the surface on which the Spaniard had built a large part of his recent successes, with titles in the last two years and two crowns at Roland Garros.
An injury that forces a sudden stop
The problem is located in the right wrist tendon, with inflammation and cartilage involvement, which prevents him from competing normally. The player's team has opted not to take risks and to prioritize full recovery before returning to competition.
Alcaraz himself explained the decision 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 awaiting the evaluation of the evolution to decide when we will return to the court. It is a complicated moment for me, but I am sure that we will come out stronger from here."
The tennis player had already hinted at the seriousness of the problem by appearing with a splint on his wrist during the gala of the Premios Laureus, where he was recognized as best sportsman of the year.
A sporting and ranking blow
The absence at Roland Garros and Rome means a direct impact on the ATP rankings. Alcaraz will lose around 3,000 points, which could affect his position in the world rankings and bring rivals like Jannik Sinner or Alexander Zverev closer.
The Murcian, who had started the season with titles in the Australian Open and Doha, sees his momentum halted at a key moment in the calendar.
For now, there is no concrete date for a return to the track. The team's objective is to avoid relapses and focus the recovery on the evolution of the wrist.