John Mcenroe Says Alcaraz Injury Opens Djokovic’s Grand Slam Path
Carlos Alcaraz’s right wrist injury has pushed him out at least through Wimbledon, and John Mcenroe says that opens the door for Novak Djokovic at the next two Grand Slams. The shift comes while Alcaraz is the two-time defending French Open champion and Djokovic is chasing more major title chances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Mcenroe on Djokovic’s path
“You’d have to say that when it looked even bleaker that he’d win another [major], the door’s opened up obviously more for [Djokovic] as well as [Alexander] Zverev, for example, and others that have been struggling,” McEnroe said on a TNT Sports Zoom call previewing the French Open. He also said, “You talk about wide open in a way, other than the obvious guy Sinner.”
McEnroe added that he would take Jannik Sinner “against the field right now,” even with Alcaraz sidelined. Sinner has won five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles in 2026, six straight overall and 29 straight matches after capturing the Italian Open title on Sunday.
Djokovic at Roland Garros
Djokovic has won Roland Garros three times and Wimbledon seven times, and McEnroe said grass is his best bet at this point. “I can see that, absolutely,” he said of Djokovic’s chances on the grass. “He’s got that expertise, he knows that, he’s done that. The points are shorter. So I’d say that’s his best bet at this point.”
The Serbian’s recent clay results have not matched that track record. He lost to world No. 79 Dino Prižmić of Croatia in his first match at the Italian Open earlier this month, and Patrick McEnroe said a strong start in Paris would change the picture quickly.
Fritz, Shelton and others
John McEnroe also named Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz as players who could benefit from Alcaraz’s absence. Patrick McEnroe pointed to Arthur Fils, ranked No. 19, and Learner Tien, ranked No. 20, as younger players who could make a semifinal run.
For Djokovic, the opening is real but narrow. If he gets through the first couple rounds at Roland Garros, Patrick McEnroe said, he can become one of the favorites, and the French Open draw now carries more weight because Alcaraz is out of the picture through Wimbledon.
