Jannik Sinner urged two-time French Open defending champion Carlos Alcaraz not to rush from the wrist injury. Alcaraz dropped a bombshell on Friday, April 25, and confirmed that he will miss the upcoming ATP Rome and Roland Garros.
Alcaraz won both tournaments last year, defeating Jannik Sinner in the final. Sinner said that it’s sad that Alcaraz will miss Roland Garros, calling him the best player on clay, and hoped that he recovers in time for Wimbledon. He wished the World No.2 a speedy recovery, saying that he will miss playing him at the Roland Garros.
“That’s very tough,” Sinner said after his match against Benjamin Bonzi at the Madrid Open. “With these kinds of injuries, you have to go very, very slow. It’s sad for tennis. Carlos is the defending champion, and as a competitor, I always want to play against the best in the world.”
“He’s definitely the best in the world on this surface. It’s sad news. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he’s ready for Wimbledon,” Sinner added.
What Did Alcaraz Say?
Alcaraz picked up the injury during the first round match of the Barcelona Open and pulled out of the tournament and the ongoing ATP Madrid. He said that he will wait for scan results before taking a final call, adding that he is doing his best to get fit. But on Friday, he confirmed that he will not defend his title at Roland Garros.
“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros, while we assess the situation to determine when we can return to the court,” Alcaraz posted on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Sinner said that Carlos will come back stronger from the injury, adding that it was important to give proper rest to the wrist as such injuries are tough on players.
“I do believe he’s going to come back stronger than before. But injury is always tough, especially the wrist,” Sinner said.
Sinner Targets Career Slam
Earlier this year, Alcaraz won the Australian Open and completed the Career Grand Slam. Sinner is yet to achieve the feat as he has won the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon, but has yet to grab the title at Roland Garros. He was very close to his maiden title last year, but Alcaraz made a terrific comeback and won in a five-set thriller.
This year, there will be no Alcaraz, and beating Sinner in a Grand Slam would be a very big ask for others. The second best to Alcaraz is Alexander Zverev, but he barely competes against Sinner and has lost eight straight games to the Italian.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, who broke the myth that Sinner is unbeatable by defeating him at the Australian Open 2026, will find it very challenging at the Roland Garros, as sustaining that level of fitness on clay will be challenging. Sinner has a golden chance to complete a Career Grand Slam this year.