JANNIK SINNER URGES RIVAL ALCARAZ TO BE PATIENT DURING HIS WRIST RECOVERY
Two-time champion Alcaraz will miss Roland Garros. Jannik Sinner shares his support as the French Open title race gets a shake-up.
So, Carlos Alcaraz, twice a French Open champ, won’t make it to Roland Garros this year. He’s out with an injury, and it’s official. Alcaraz shared the news on social media, saying, “After seeing the test results today, we decided the smartest move is to play it safe, so I won’t compete in Rome or at Roland Garros. We’ll keep an eye on my recovery and figure out the right time to get back on court. It’s a tough moment for me, but I’m sure I’ll come back stronger.”
The tournament wished him a quick recovery with a simple, “We’ll miss you, Carlos!”
With Alcaraz stepping out, Jannik Sinner becomes the clear favourite in Paris. Sure, Novak Djokovic might make his move too; he always does, but right now the buzz is all about Sinner.
Reporters asked Sinner about his chances in France now that his big rival is out. He wasn’t eager to go there. Sinner said, “Honestly, this isn’t about me being the favourite. Tennis needs Carlos; he brings a whole different energy to the sport. And personally, I enjoy having him around because he makes me think about my own game and the tournament differently. Even though we’d only clash in the final as the top two seeds, it just feels better when he’s part of the draw. I hope he recovers quickly. It’s really difficult for tennis when a top player is injured, especially with the wrists. Look at what’s happened to others. I just hope he takes his time and comes back fully ready. Nobody wants to see him rush back and end up with a worse problem.”
Fans loved Sinner’s answer. Videos from the press conference popped up on social media, with people calling it “pure class". One fan commented, “That’s class. Don’t root for others to get hurt.” Another added, “Jannik Sinner, pure class for his rival dealing with a serious injury." Nothing but respect between these two young legends. And really, it’s hard to disagree. Sinner kept it respectful. He knows his odds are better now, but he made it clear: tennis just isn’t the same without Alcaraz.
WHY CARLOS ALCARAZ’S WRIST INJURY THREATENS HIS 2026 FRENCH OPEN TITLE DEFENSE
Carlos Alcaraz is racing to be fit for the French Open. Discover why he’s prioritizing long-term health over his title defense in Paris.
Carlos Alcaraz is now racing against the clock to get fit in time for defending his French Open title next month. A former Grand Slam finalist has offered him some straightforward advice, urging caution.
Alcaraz is dealing with a wrist issue he picked up during the Barcelona Open. He’s openly considering whether he'll recover in time for Roland Garros.
Having already claimed seven Grand Slam titles, Alcaraz likely doesn’t want to miss the second major of 2026. But Greg Rusedski, a former US Open finalist, thinks he should be careful with his next move.
At only 22, Alcaraz needs to prevent any wrist injury from becoming a long-term setback. Rusedski suggests skipping the French Open might be the smarter path if there’s any doubt about the injury, especially since wrists are notoriously vulnerable for tennis players.
“He has to think long-term; this could be a 10-year career,” Rusedski explained on his podcast. “A serious wrist injury isn't something he can afford. Look at Juan Martin del Potro, one of the greats who never fully recovered from his wrist issues.”
He continued, “Take your time and wait until you’re completely ready. Don’t rush back. Honestly, I don’t think he cares about ranking points right now. Health is wealth.”
“The four majors define greatness. Carlos already has seven, just three shy of ten at such a young age, which is remarkable.”
Rumours surfaced during the Monte Carlo finals that Alcaraz wasn’t feeling great because of his wrist, maybe dealing with some minor annoyances. Those little aches and pains are part of the game. It was smart for him to withdraw from Barcelona to avoid making things worse.
“And if he misses the French, it’s really not the end of the world,” Rusedski added.
He also compared Alcaraz’s approach to tournament scheduling with that of world number one Jannik Sinner.
Sinner tends to space out events, while Alcaraz played back-to-back tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona before his injury cropped up.
“Look at Jannik Sinner: his schedule is well thought out, his preparation is meticulous, and he’s usually the first to arrive, fully ready. He’s had very few injuries because he manages his body well. But they’re different personalities.”
“Carlos likes to enjoy life, parties, and his boat, while Sinner is more reserved, focused on tennis and recovery. Sleep, relaxation, and time away from the court are key for the best players, and they balance that carefully. Without that balance, you end up with these niggles, pains, and injuries; it’s about finding that equilibrium.”
WHY COCO GAUFF’S "DIRTY SOCKS" DILEMMA DEFINES HER LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CLAY
Coco Gauff is ready for the Madrid Open. Discover her unique relationship with clay and her quest for a first 2026 singles title.
Coco Gauff recently shared her thoughts on playing on clay courts, mixing in a bit of humour to describe how she feels about that surface. She admitted that her relationship with the clay season is a bit tangled; she’s not exactly fond of competing on clay, yet it’s where she tends to achieve her strongest results.
Her journey on clay started early, with a breakthrough at the 2018 French Open juniors. At just 14, she won her first singles junior title by beating Caty McNally in a tight three-set match, eventually becoming the junior world No. 1 that year. Since then, she’s built an encouraging record on the surface at the pro level, making it to the second round of Roland Garros in 2020 and advancing as far as the quarterfinals the following year.
Her performance at the 2022 French Open marked a milestone; it was her first Grand Slam final appearance. Though she lost to Iga Swiatek, she continued to push deep into the tournament in subsequent years, reaching quarterfinals and semifinals before finally capturing her first Grand Slam singles title on clay in 2025. That victory saw her come back from a set down to beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. In an interview with Tennis Channel, Gauff reflected on her odd connection with clay:
“You know when there’s someone who treats you well, does everything right, but it still just doesn’t click? That’s how I feel about clay. I have great results on it; I do well, but my socks get dirty, and I have to take off my shoes before I even walk into my room. There are a lot of things about it that I just don’t like, yet my biggest milestones happened there: my junior title, first Grand Slam final, and first doubles Slam. So maybe, just maybe, nice guys finish last.”
It’s worth noting she also claimed the doubles title at Roland Garros in 2024, adding to her clay court achievements.
Looking ahead, Gauff is chasing her first singles crown of 2026 after a series of underwhelming tournament runs. Her season kicked off at the Australian Open, where she fell in the quarterfinals to Elina Svitolina. Things didn’t get easier; she was upset early by Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the first round, losing 6-4, 6-2. Svitolina reappeared as a tough opponent in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where Gauff put up another strong fight.
Her Indian Wells Masters campaign was cut short due to an injury she sustained during her second-round match against Alexandra Eala. Nevertheless, she bounced back at the Miami Open, making it all the way to the final after beating players like Alycia Parks, Belinda Bencic, Karolina Muchova, and Sorana Cirstea.
Her clay season began at the Stuttgart Open, but her hopes for silverware there faded with a quarterfinal loss to Muchova. Now, all eyes turn to the Madrid Open starting on April 23, 2026, where Gauff aims to finally secure that elusive first singles title of the year.
