Carlos Alcaraz Will Miss Wimbledon With Wrist Injury — Us Open Tennis
Carlos Alcaraz will miss Wimbledon after a wrist injury forced him out through the end of the clay-court season, a setback that removes a seven-time Grand Slam champion from one of the sport’s biggest stages. The issue began in April during a changeover at the Barcelona Open, and his absence now reaches far beyond the red dirt.
At 23, Alcaraz already owns seven Grand Slam championships. The wrist injury changes his immediate schedule and puts another major on hold while he waits to return.
Barcelona Open Injury
The injury started in April during a changeover at the Barcelona Open. That detail matters because the wrist sits at the end of the kinetic chain that powers nearly every shot, and when it goes, the whole motion changes with it.
Alcaraz announced last month that he would be sidelined through the end of the clay-court season. He has now gone further and ruled himself out of Wimbledon, cutting off a path to another run at a Grand Slam title.
Wrist Injuries And Tennis
Wrist problems carry a reputation that fits this case. Bill Mallon, a retired orthopedic surgeon and Olympic sports historian, said, “Historically that seems to be the worst” during a recent interview.
Dr. Melissa Leber, the director of player medical services at the U.S. Open and a sports physician, said, “People often say tennis players who have prevented wrist injuries for their career thus far, they’re actually really lucky” and added, “It has to do with your form and how you hit. But in general wrist injuries plague the majority of tennis players.” The wrist is built from eight bones, three principal joints, ligaments and tendons, with scant muscle around them, which leaves little room for error once pain starts.
Sebastian Korda’s Recovery
Sebastian Korda’s experience shows how long the fallout can last. He felt wrist pain early in an Australian Open quarterfinal in 2023 and later said, “Trusting it wasn’t easy. It was just a lot of pain. Then every practice you were hesitant and just always thinking about it,” a line that captures the hesitation that can linger after symptoms fade.
Korda did not pick up a racket for nearly three months after that injury. Alcaraz now faces his own pause, and the timing is harsh for a player who was already a seven-time Grand Slam champion at 23.
Rafael Nadal won 22 Grand Slam titles while dealing with chronic injuries to his foot and knees as well as wrist injuries of his own, but Alcaraz’s current setback strips him from Wimbledon before the draw even starts. For players and fans, the immediate reality is simple: one of the tour’s biggest names is out, and the clay season now ends without him.
