Carlos Alcaraz’s impressive start to the 2026 ATP season hit a roadblock earlier this month.
After surrendering the world number one spot to Jannik Sinner in Monte Carlo, Alcaraz travelled north to Barcelona, seeking to defend the title he won 12 months prior.
During his first-round match against Otto Virtanen, Alcaraz struggled with discomfort in his right wrist.
How worried are you about Carlos Alcaraz’s injury?
Carlos Alcaraz will miss Rome and Roland Garros…
The Spaniard later withdrew from the event in Barcelona – and the Madrid Open.
A week later, Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from the Italian Open and Roland Garros, much to the disappointment of the tennis community.
Rennae Stubbs has now offered her take on Alcaraz’s ordeal, identifying an area of his game which she finds troublesome.
Rennae Stubbs takes issue with Carlos Alcaraz’s service motion
“One thing I do [wonder] is that [Alcaraz is] playing a lot of golf,” Stubbs [pictured below] remarked on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
“I don’t know if that is causing him problems, because if you play golf and play it well you are taking divots and you are using your wrist on the golf shot a lot. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it, a doctor can answer that more than I could.”
Stubbs, a six-time Grand Slam champion across women’s doubles and mixed doubles, went on to discuss the Spaniard’s recent serving adjustments.
Alcaraz made alterations to his serve during the 2025 offseason. Upon the adjustments being made, his serve drew comparisons to Novak Djokovic’s due to their similarities.
Djokovic remarked on the similarities earlier this year, joking that he would need to speak to his rival about ‘copyright.’
“But also he changed his service motion this year, where he is starting with that little wrist bend. I think about Novak, he had his issues with his elbow,” Stubbs continued.
“I have to say, I do not like that start of that serve.
“As great as a server as Novak is, that little hitch that he does at the start and then he bends it back again. I don’t know if that is causing any problems with the wrist.
“It could be bio-mechanically. It could be that he just has a problem in that area of his body, which is just weak, I am speculating on all of this.
Can anyone now stop Jannik Sinner from winning Roland Garros after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal?
If yes, who?
“But it just does not make sense that a guy of his age is continually having problems with this area of his body [the arm]. And it is bad. If he does not get this organised it’s not good for his career.
“The wrist is the worst! Just look at Juan Martin Del Potro. Look at his career. It just went down the toilet after all these wrist injuries.
“Carlos has got to be really, really careful with this injury.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s full statement after withdrawing from the 2026 French Open
Tennis fans’ fears were realised when Carlos Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from the French Open last week.
“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing is to be cautious and not participate in Rome and Roland Garros, while we wait to assess the evolution to decide when we will return to the court,” Alcaraz said in an Instagram post.
“It’s a complicated moment for me, but I’m sure we’ll come out stronger from here.”
Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the event will come as a disappointment to many.
The event simply will not hold the same level of grandeur without the two-time defending champion competing.
One hopes that the Spaniard will be able to recover in time for the grass-court season.
