Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his French Open title this year due to a right wrist injury, opening a clearer path for Alexander Zverev in the men’s singles draw.
The 22-year-old Spaniard announced his withdrawal from the Italian Open and Roland Garros via social media, citing medical advice after recent tests. Alcaraz stated that avoiding both tournaments was the prudent choice to ensure long-term health, calling it a demanding moment but expressing confidence in returning stronger.
Alcaraz sustained the injury during his home tournament in Barcelona, where he withdrew early. He had previously skipped the Madrid Masters for the same reason. His absence marks the first time since 2015 that the French Open men’s title will not be defended by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Stan Wawrinka, and the first time since 2022 that the reigning champion does not return to defend.
As the two-time defending champion, Alcaraz’s withdrawal reshapes the tournament’s dynamics. Zverev, who reached the final last year before losing to Alcaraz in five sets, is now seeded second in the draw. This positioning means he could potentially face Jannik Sinner only in the final, avoiding a semifinal clash with the Italian world No. 1.
Zverev has lost his last eight matches against Sinner, including three semifinal defeats at Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo. Avoiding Sinner until a possible final represents a significant shift in his route to the title.
Despite his injury, Alcaraz was honored as the Laureus World Sports Awards’ Sportsman of the Year during his recovery period. He attended the ceremony wearing a brace on his right forearm, which had already raised concerns among fans about his availability for the clay-court season.
The French Open is scheduled to run from May 24 to June 8, 2025, at Roland Garros in Paris. Alcaraz won the 2024 edition by defeating Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in the final, securing his third Grand Slam title and becoming the youngest man to win majors on all three surfaces at 21 years and 21 days old.
With Alcaraz absent, Zverev enters the tournament seeking his first Grand Slam title after reaching three major finals. His best performance at Roland Garros remains the runner-up finish from last year.
The draw will determine Zverev’s early opponents, but his second seed guarantees he will not face the top seed until the semifinals at the earliest, and only then if Sinner advances that far.
Alcaraz has not provided a timeline for his return, emphasizing a cautious approach to recovery. His focus remains on healing properly to avoid long-term complications from the wrist issue.
For ongoing updates on player statuses and tournament developments, fans are encouraged to follow official communications from the French Tennis Federation and ATP Tour.
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