World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz said Monday that he will not force his return from a right wrist injury, even with Roland Garros approaching, making clear that his comeback will depend on upcoming medical tests rather than the calendar. Alcaraz said the next evaluation will be decisive as he and his team wait to learn whether he can defend his French Open title next month.
The 22-year-old Spaniard picked up the injury during his opening-round win over Otto Virtanen in Barcelona. He withdrew from that tournament shortly afterward, and later also pulled out of the Madrid Open after scans showed the problem was more serious than initially expected.
Speaking in Madrid after receiving the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award, Alcaraz said patience is now the priority. He indicated that the next medical check will shape the decision on Paris and stressed that returning fully healthy matters more than trying to come back too soon for one event.
Alcaraz’s stance reflects a long-view approach at a critical point in the clay season. Roland Garros begins May 24 in Paris, leaving only a narrow window for recovery, and any setback would come just after he also missed his home Masters 1000 event in Madrid.
The injury news lands at a difficult moment for Alcaraz, who recently dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 after losing the Monte Carlo final to Jannik Sinner. Even so, he arrived at the Laureus ceremony with another major honor after a 2025 season that saw him finish the year as world No. 1 and earn the top male prize at the annual awards.
For now, Alcaraz’s message is simple: there will be no gamble with his future for the sake of an early return. Until the test results are in, his French Open title defense remains uncertain, but his priority is making sure the wrist heals properly before he steps back on court.
