Defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz faces an anxious wait as upcoming medical tests on his injured wrist will determine whether he can compete at Roland Garros this year.
The world number two withdrew from both the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open after sustaining a right wrist injury during his first-round victory in Barcelona last week. Alcaraz, who has captured back-to-back French Open titles, described the issue as "more serious than any of us expected."
"We've been trying to do everything we can to make sure that this test goes well," Alcaraz told Spanish television. "I'm trying to be very patient. But we are good and just waiting a little bit. We have a few tests in the next few days and then we will see how the injury is and what the next steps will be."
The 21-year-old Spaniard emphasized caution over rushing his return, prioritizing long-term health over immediate competition. "I'd rather come back a little later but in great shape than come back early, rushing around, and unwell," he said. "God willing, I have a very long career ahead of me - many years - and pushing myself too hard at this Roland Garros could seriously harm me in future tournaments."
Alcaraz's injury comes at a challenging moment in the rankings battle. Jannik Sinner recently reclaimed the world number one spot after defeating Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final. With the French Open scheduled from May 24 to June 6, the Spanish star could lose significant ground in the rankings if he's unable to defend his title.
Despite the setback, Alcaraz maintains a philosophical perspective. "Things happen in the professional world. You have to accept them," he reflected. "I need to recover really well if I don't want it to affect me later on." The tennis world now awaits the crucial test results that will determine whether one of the sport's brightest stars can pursue a third consecutive French Open championship.