Alcaraz faces risk of longer-than-expected absence from competition

Currently, Carlos Alcaraz will not participate in the two remaining major tournaments of the clay season: the Rome Masters and Roland Garros.

Carlos Alcaraz's consecutive withdrawals from major clay-court events are raising concerns about his potential participation in Wimbledon this year. After failing to recover from his wrist injury in time to compete at the Rome Masters and Roland Garros —the second Grand Slam of the year—the risk of the Spanish player missing the grass-court season is becoming increasingly evident.

Alcaraz initially still entered the Barcelona Open but had to withdraw immediately after his opening match due to injury. He also did not appear at the Madrid Open, indicating his physical condition is not yet satisfactory. Missing most of the clay season not only affects his form but also puts the Spanish player at a significant disadvantage in the race for the world No. 1 ranking against Jannik Sinner.

According to Italian media, previous predictions that Alcaraz would return soon at the Queen's Club Championships and then proceed to Wimbledon are considered overly optimistic. The team of the 22-year-old player is carefully weighing options to avoid the risk of a wrist injury recurrence—a factor that could have long-term effects on his career. Even some sources suggest the recovery process could extend for several months, meaning Alcaraz risks missing the entire grass-court season.

In that context, a more realistic goal for Alcaraz may be aiming for the late-year hard-court season, especially the Cincinnati Open—a tournament he has previously won. This is also seen as a crucial preparatory step ahead of the US Open.

Speaking about his condition, the player born in 2003 admitted this is a difficult period but remains optimistic: he and his team are closely monitoring the recovery process before deciding on a return to competition. Meanwhile, Sinner—his biggest rival—also expressed regret over the absence of his major opponent, emphasizing that the Spanish player's presence always enhances the appeal of top-level tennis.