PARIS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Seven-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz said on Friday that he will miss the upcoming Italian Open and French Open due to a lingering right wrist injury.
Alcaraz said on social media that after receiving the results of medical tests on his right wrist, he and his team had decided that "the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros."
"This is a difficult time for me, but I'm sure we will come out of it stronger," he added.
The 22-year-old Spaniard sustained the injury during his first-round match at the Barcelona Open last week. Although he beat Finland's Otto Virtanen, he subsequently pulled out of the tournament and announced his withdrawal from this week's Madrid Masters on April 17.
Alcaraz has posted a 22-3 record this season and became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam after winning the Australian Open in January. During the clay season, he lost to Italy's Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final, after which Sinner reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking.
Alcaraz won back-to-back French Open titles in 2024 and 2025. In last year's final, he saved three championship points against Sinner in the longest French Open final in history.
"It's sad news for all of us, me being a competitor you want to play against the best players in the world and he's definitely the best player on this surface," said Sinner after winning a second-round match at the Madrid Open on Friday.
He also said he hoped Alcaraz would return in time for Wimbledon. ■
