Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from Wimbledon and the grass-court swing due to a right wrist injury, leaving the defending champion sidelined from the Grand Slam that begins on 29 June. The 23-year-old announced the decision on Instagram on Tuesday, stating that while his recovery was progressing well, he was not yet ready to compete at Queen's or Wimbledon.
Why the withdrawal matters
The two-time defending Wimbledon champion will not get the chance to pursue a third consecutive title at the grass-court Grand Slam. Alcaraz won Wimbledon in 2024 and 2025, and the tournament sits among his seven Grand Slam crowns. His absence also means he will lose additional ground in the rankings to Jannik Sinner, who replaced him as world number one last month and has won the past six Masters 1,000 tournaments.
How the injury developed
Alcaraz sustained the wrist injury during the Barcelona Open last month, forcing him to withdraw after the first round. He subsequently pulled out of the French Open to continue his recovery. The timing of his Wimbledon withdrawal leaves the season's biggest title without two of the players who have defined men's tennis in recent years—Sinner has said he will not play any grass-court events before Wimbledon.
Alcaraz's Grand Slam dominance
The past nine men's major singles titles have been split between Alcaraz and Sinner, with five going to Alcaraz. Earlier this year, Alcaraz won his first Australian Open title and became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. His team faces an extended period of recovery; he is expected to miss the entire grass-court season and much of the clay-court swing.
Sources
- Mogaz: Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon Withdrawal leaves defending champion out of grass season. Published 2026-06-01.
Reported from public sources.