Carlos Alcaraz Withdraws from Wimbledon Due to Persistent Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz Out of Wimbledon 2026 with Wrist Injury

Two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed he will not compete at this year's tournament after failing to recover sufficiently from a right wrist injury. The announcement marks a significant blow to the grass-court season and reshapes the landscape of men's tennis heading into the summer.

How the Injury Unfolded

The 23-year-old Spaniard first suffered the wrist injury during the opening round of the Barcelona Open last month, prompting him to withdraw from the tournament immediately. The damage proved serious enough that Alcaraz subsequently made the difficult decision to skip the French Open — a tournament where he had claimed back-to-back titles — in order to allow his body adequate time to heal.

Despite signs of progress in his recovery, Alcaraz confirmed via Instagram on Tuesday that he remains unfit to compete at the required level.

"My recovery is going well and I'm feeling much better, but unfortunately I'm still not ready to compete, which is why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen's and Wimbledon," he wrote. "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."

A Costly Absence from the Grass Season

Alcaraz's withdrawal means he will miss his scheduled appearance at Queen's Club — where he is also a two-time champion — in addition to Wimbledon, which gets underway on June 29. The decision effectively wipes out his entire grass-court campaign and the bulk of his clay-court season as well.

This comes just months after the Spaniard reached a historic milestone by winning the Australian Open earlier this year, becoming the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam.

Sinner Stands to Benefit

The timing of Alcaraz's absence hands a significant advantage to world number one Jannik Sinner, who already displaced the Spaniard at the top of the ATP rankings last month. The Italian has been in extraordinary form, winning six consecutive Masters 1000 titles, including three in the past five weeks alone, and has strung together 29 consecutive match victories since March.

With Alcaraz sidelined, Sinner is poised to extend his lead at the summit of the world rankings and chip away at the Spaniard's 7-4 advantage in Grand Slam titles won between the two rivals.

However, Sinner himself has indicated he will skip all warm-up grass-court events ahead of Wimbledon, citing the physical and mental toll of his relentless recent schedule. That decision could open the door for other top-ten contenders.

Wrist Injuries — A Serious Concern for Tennis Players

Wrist injuries are among the most feared and difficult to manage in professional tennis. Alcaraz himself acknowledged the long-term risks earlier this year, stating at the Laureus Awards in April that pushing through the injury at Roland Garros could have lasting consequences.

"I have a very long career ahead of me, with many years still to come," he said at the time. "Forcing things at this Roland Garros could really harm me for future tournaments."

The cautious approach is well-founded. Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem was forced to retire at the end of 2024 after a wrist injury derailed his career, and Argentine legend Juan Martin del Potro was similarly hampered by wrist problems for much of his career following his 2009 US Open triumph.

Who Steps Up in Alcaraz's Absence?

With the Wimbledon draw missing one of its two dominant forces, the field opens up considerably. Among the remaining top ten, only Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic have previously won Grand Slam singles titles.

Djokovic, who celebrates his 39th birthday this week, carries the most compelling grass-court pedigree in the draw — a seven-time Wimbledon champion who, fitness permitting, will represent a formidable threat to anyone in the field. Despite his own injury concerns in recent months, the Serbian veteran's experience and prowess on grass should never be underestimated.

The absence of Alcaraz undeniably diminishes the spectacle at SW19, given the three thrilling finals he and Sinner contested last year. Nevertheless, the stage is set for an intriguing Wimbledon, with Sinner seeking to assert his dominance and a hungry pack of challengers ready to seize the opportunity.