French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz said Monday he would rather miss defending his Roland Garros title in May than rush back from what he described as a “serious” wrist injury.
The 22-year-old pulled out of the Barcelona Open after feeling his wrist “give out on a return” and later said the issue was “a more serious injury than any of us expected.” He also withdrew from the Madrid Open, raising doubts about his participation in the French Open, which begins May 18.
Speaking at an award ceremony on Monday, Alcaraz emphasized a cautious approach to recovery.
“I’d rather come back a little later but in great shape than come back early, rushing around, and unwell,” he said.
He added that prioritizing long-term health was more important than playing through injury for a single tournament.
“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,” he said.
Alcaraz also noted that setbacks are part of professional sport and said he is focused on proper recovery.
“Things happen in the professional world. You have to accept them,” he said. “I need to recover really well if I don’t want it to affect me later on.”
The world No. 2 recently lost his top ranking after falling to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final on April 12. Before his injury, Alcaraz had been on a 17-match winning streak on clay, dating back to last season, when he won titles in Rome and at Roland Garros.