When Carlos Alcaraz landed in Australia back in January, you could sense he was carrying a different kind of confidence. He had just wrapped up 2025 as World No. 1, and there was one big goal on his mind: completing the career Grand Slam. And at Rod Laver Arena, he did exactly that. It felt like the perfect way to start the year. Everything seemed to be falling into place for the Spaniard. But the story of his season was about to change.

First, Jannik Sinner overtook him for the World No. 1 ranking in Monte Carlo. Then came the physical setbacks. A wrist injury forced Alcaraz to pull out of the Barcelona Open, and not long after, he also pulled out of the Madrid Open. At the time, it still felt like a short-term setback, nothing more.

But then everything changed.

After days of speculation about when he might return, the headlines suddenly changed. Instead of news of a comeback, fans were hit with an update few saw coming: Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from both the Italian Open and Roland Garros.

For a player who had been expected to defend one of the biggest titles of his career, it was the kind of news that stopped the tennis world in its tracks.

Sharing the heartbreaking update with his fans, the 7x Grand Slam Champion penned: “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. It’s a complicated moment for me, but I’m sure we’ll come out stronger from here.”

The first signs of trouble appeared during his opening-round match against Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open. Although he managed to come through that match, scans later revealed the wrist injury was more serious than initially thought.

And from there, things only became more concerning. When Alcaraz showed up at the Laureus Sports Awards wearing a cast, it was an obvious sign that recovery was not going as planned. Further scans in Madrid offered little encouragement. In fact, Alcaraz had already hinted at the uncertainty surrounding his comeback when he said, “We have some tests coming up in a few days, and from there, we’ll see how the injury is and what the next steps are.”

Now, those next steps have become clear. The Spaniard has been forced to withdraw from the French Open, where he was set to return as the two-time defending champion.

Why Alcaraz’s wrist issue demands extreme caution

With a wrist injury, there’s no real shortcut, especially for a player like Carlos Alcaraz, whose game relies so heavily on explosive shots and intense rallies. This isn’t the kind of issue you rush, and the fact that he has avoided setting a timeline for his return only underlines the uncertainty around it.

The wrist endures enormous strain in professional tennis. It’s not just the demands of competing week after week, but the cumulative wear from years of training, practice, and repetition dating back to childhood. Every shot, every session, every tournament adds to that load.

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem knows that reality all too well. After battling persistent wrist problems that ultimately led to his retirement in 2024, Thiem spoke about how the constant repetition of striking thousands of balls over the years can gradually take its toll.

Add in the challenge of adjusting to different balls from tournament to tournament, each with its own weight, texture, and bounce, it becomes even clearer why wrist injuries can be so difficult to overcome.

In fact, the physical demands of modern tennis are higher than they’ve ever been, and that’s something players are feeling more and more. Alcaraz has been one of the most vocal about it, often pointing to the relentless length of the season and the toll it takes on the body.

That’s why his recent schedule on clay inevitably raises some questions. Just two days after a grueling final in Monte Carlo against his biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old was back on court in Barcelona. In a sport that offers little time to recover, that quick turnaround may have come at a cost.

Sinner also acknowledged just how demanding the tour can be, especially on the body. Reacting to Alcaraz’s withdrawal, the Italian expressed his concerns and added,

“It is very sad news. Being that young like he is and like I am, we need to look at our bodies first before worse things [happen]. Hopefully he can be back for Wimbledon and we all hope for great battles in the future.”

With Alcaraz sidelined, the French Open men’s draw suddenly looks far more open. Sinner now steps in as the leading favorite, while Alexander Zverev will see this as another golden opportunity to finally capture the Grand Slam title that has so far eluded him.

For now, the Spaniard’s attention will be firmly on recovery, with the goal of returning to competition in time for Wimbledon at SW19.