Why is Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from French Open? World No. 2 makes stunning announcement ahead of Roland Garros

Carlos Alcaraz has become a staple at the French Open, winning back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, but the No. 2 player in the world will not be competing for a third-straight title at Roland Garros.

Alcaraz announced on Friday that he was withdrawing from the French Open, which is set to begin in about a month's time, due to injury. Alcaraz had hoped that he would be healthy enough to defend his two-time title in Paris, but it seems like he ultimately ran out of time.

Alcaraz's absence opens the door for Jannik Sinner, who is a French Open short of completing the career grand slam. Alcaraz defeated Sinner in the French Open final last year before Sinner returned the favor in Wimbledon a month later.

Here's why Alcaraz will not be competing in the 2026 French Open.

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Why is Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from French Open?

On Friday, Carlos Alcaraz announced that he is withdrawing from the 2026 French Open due to a lingering right wrist injury. This is will be the fourth-straight event Alcaraz will miss, as he also didn't participate in either the Barcelona Open or the Madrid Open and will not play in the Italian Open in the lead-up to Roland Garros.

"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," Alcaraz wrote on social media. "It's a complicated moment for me, but I'm sure we'll come out stronger from here"

Después de los resultados de las pruebas realizadas hoy, hemos decidido que lo más prudente es ser cautos y no participar en Roma y Roland Garros, a la espera de valorar la evolución para decidir cuándo volveremos a la pista. Es un momento complicado para mí, pero estoy seguro de… pic.twitter.com/U6PhjtXnBX

It's unclear exactly when the wrist injury occurred, but it is serious enough that he will have to miss a major tournament for the first time since 2023. Alcaraz had participated in six-straight French Opens, but will now focus on preparing for Wimbledon.

Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion at the French Open after winning each of the last two events in 2024 and 2025. He was looking to become the sixth man all-time to win three-straight French Open titles, and only the third since 1914.