It has been a difficult stretch for Carlos Alcaraz in recent weeks. The Spaniard not only fell short in the Monte Carlo Masters final and lost the world No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner, but also picked up a serious wrist injury during the Barcelona Open.
The injury forced Alcaraz to withdraw from multiple major clay events, including the Madrid Masters, Rome Masters, and ultimately the French Open. His absence has drawn reactions from across the tennis world, with several players expressing concern and support—among them defending Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud.
Ruud, who himself had to pull out of the Barcelona Open due to a calf issue sustained in Monte Carlo, empathized with Alcaraz’s situation. He highlighted how unfortunate the Spaniard’s absence is—not just for him, but for the sport and its fans.
“It’s really sad for him, for tennis, for tournaments, for fans not to be able to see him defending the title two years in a row. I feel for him. I didn’t have anything as serious as this, but last week I wasn’t able to play in Barcelona because of injury, and you quickly realize that the most important thing for us is to stay healthy and happy mentally and physically,” Ruud told BB Tennis.
The Norwegian also extended his support, saying, “When you’re not feeling good and if you have injury, then it can be really tough, so I wish him the best and a speedy recovery. He is such a joy to watch in the tournaments so he will be missed for sure.”
Concerns around Alcaraz’s condition grew stronger when he was spotted wearing a cast at the Laureus Sports Awards. Around the same time, the 22-year-old had expressed uncertainty about his recovery timeline.
“We have some tests coming up in a few days, and from there, we’ll see how the injury is and what the next steps are,” Alcaraz had said.
Shortly after, he officially withdrew from both the Rome Masters and the French Open. As the defending champion in both tournaments, the decision is expected to cost him a significant 3,000 ranking points.
Ruud, meanwhile, has also been enduring a challenging run. He has yet to reach the semifinal stage in any of the seven tournaments he has played this season, with most of his campaigns ending in disappointment. Additionally, he revealed that the injury he suffered in Monaco was unlike anything he had previously experienced, forcing him to retire mid-match during his clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
With both players dealing with setbacks, the situation highlights the physical toll of the sport, while leaving fans hoping for Alcaraz’s swift return to full fitness.
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