Carlos Alcaraz to Miss Wimbledon Due to Wrist Injury
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz has announced he will withdraw from Wimbledon 2026, missing the tournament he has won twice, as he continues to recover from a right wrist injury. The 23-year-old Spaniard, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will also miss the grass-court warm-up at Queen’s Club, marking his second consecutive Grand Slam absence this season.
Context
Alcaraz sustained inflammation of the tendon sheath in his right wrist during the first round of the Barcelona Open in April 2026. The injury has already forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open, the Mutua Madrid Open, and the French Open, where he was the two-time defending champion. According to Fox News, Alcaraz announced the decision via social media on Tuesday, May 19.
Key Developments
In his announcement, Alcaraz wrote on Instagram and X: “My recovery is going well and I’m feeling much better, but unfortunately I’m still not ready to be able to compete, which is why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon.” He added, “They are two truly special tournaments for me and I will miss them a lot. We’ll keep working to come back as soon as possible!”
As BBC Sport reports, Alcaraz began the year in spectacular fashion by winning the Australian Open in February, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final and becoming the youngest man ever to complete the Career Grand Slam. He owns a 22-3 win-loss record this season and has won 26 career titles with a career record of 302-68.
The ATP Tour confirmed that Alcaraz last competed at the Barcelona Open, where he won his first-round match against Otto Virtanen before withdrawing ahead of the second round. He also reached the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters in April, where he fell to Jannik Sinner.
Analysis & Implications
Alcaraz’s absence dramatically reshapes the men’s draw at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Jannik Sinner, the World No. 1 and Alcaraz’s primary rival, becomes the overwhelming favorite for both tournaments. As CBS Sports notes, Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last nine men’s Grand Slam singles titles between them, with Alcaraz holding a 5-4 edge in that span.
Russell Fuller, BBC Sport’s tennis correspondent, observed: “Any Grand Slam draw lacking either Alcaraz or Sinner is much diminished given the three finals we witnessed between them last year.” Sinner has won 29 consecutive matches since the beginning of March and has claimed the past six Masters 1000 tournaments, including three in the past five weeks.
However, Sinner has indicated he will not play any grass-court warm-up events before Wimbledon due to fatigue, which could open the door for other contenders. Novak Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion who turns 39 on May 22, becomes a serious threat if healthy. Other potential beneficiaries include Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev.
Wrist injuries are notoriously problematic in tennis. BBC Sport notes that Dominic Thiem’s career was derailed by a wrist injury, leading to his retirement at the end of 2024, while Juan Martin del Potro was also plagued by wrist problems after winning the 2009 US Open. Alcaraz’s cautious approach reflects the serious nature of the injury and a focus on long-term career longevity.
What’s Next
Alcaraz’s statement does not specify a return timeline, but his recovery progress provides hope he could return for the U.S. Open in late August 2026, the final major of the season. In the meantime, his extended absence will allow Sinner to build a significant lead at the top of the ATP rankings, while Alcaraz will lose substantial ranking points from defending his Wimbledon title.
Wimbledon 2026 is scheduled to begin on June 29. With Alcaraz sidelined, the tournament will proceed without one of its most celebrated champions, leaving fans to wonder what might have been in what was shaping up to be another classic chapter in the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry.