Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the 2026 French Open due to a wrist injury.
On Friday, Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from Roland Garros on social media.
How worried are you about Carlos Alcaraz’s injury?
Carlos Alcaraz will miss Rome and Roland Garros…
With Alcaraz out, all eyes turn to Jannik Sinner, who now has a golden opportunity to complete his Career Grand Slam in Paris.
But there is a chance that Alcaraz’s withdrawal actually works against the world number one…
Jannik Sinner will be under immense pressure to win the French Open following Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal
As the two-time defending champion, however fit he was, Alcaraz would have entered the French Open as one of the big favourites.
So despite Sinner being a point away from winning last year’s French Open, he could have travelled to Paris without the pressure of being the overwhelming favourite.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.
With all due respect to the rest of the field, Sinner could lose every match he plays between now and the beginning of the French Open and would still be the favourite to lift the title.
The tournament is in effect his to lose.
Sinner will feel that pressure, especially with the Career Grand Slam on the line.
Jannik Sinner’s pursuit of the Career Grand Slam
| Grand Slam | First title | Win % |
| Australian Open | 2024 | 84% |
| French Open | – | 79% |
| Wimbledon | 2025 | 83% |
| US Open | 2024 | 79% |
It cannot be understated how difficult it is to win tournaments when everyone expects you to.
And it’s also worth remembering that Sinner has only enjoyed limited success on clay.
The Italian has only won two career titles on the surface, the second of which came earlier this month in Monte Carlo.
How many players have entered the French Open as an overwhelming favourite with just two clay-court titles to their name? Not many…
Sinner will be under immense pressure now that Alcaraz has withdrawn, although it is tough to argue that his route to the title just got a whole lot easier.
He lost to Alcaraz in last year’s final and the 2024 semi-finals.
Jannik Sinner’s French Open record
- 2025 French Open – Lost in F to Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024 French Open – Lost in SF to Carlos Alcaraz
- 2023 French Open – Lost in 2R to Daniel Altmaier
- 2022 French Open – Lost in 4R to Andrey Rublev
- 2021 French Open – Lost in 4R to Rafael Nadal
- 2020 French Open – Lost in QF to Rafael Nadal
If, and it’s a big if, Sinner can handle the pressure, he may well be a five-time Grand Slam champion come June.
Jannik Sinner wins tough opening match in Madrid
Sinner won’t want to worry himself with French Open talk just yet, though, as he continues his search for a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title in Madrid.
Receiving a bye into the second round, Sinner played the world number 104, Benjamin Bonzi.
Few believed Bonzi stood a chance, but the Frenchman rose to the occasion, taking the first set in a tiebreaker on Manolo Santana.
He was, however, unable to maintain his level and lost the next two sets, as Sinner won 6-7, 6-1, 6-4.
The Italian will return to take on Denmark’s Elmer Moller in the third round on Sunday, April 26.
