Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion at Roland Garros, has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 French Open after sustaining a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open. The same issue will also keep the 23-year-old Spaniard out of the grass-court season, including the Wimbledon Championships. His absence has opened up the men's draw, but two of the top contenders—Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev—have made it clear that they are not altering their plans or expectations.
During his pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic addressed the topic directly. 'Well, he's a two-time defending champion of Roland Garros. It's a big blow for the tournament not to have him. Whether that changes my approach to this tournament, I don't think it does significantly change, to be honest, because I've been through challenging times with my body in the last six to eight months. So that was my primary focus or concern, not really thinking about whether I have better chances or not with Carlos,' the 24-time Grand Slam champion said.
Djokovic, who now holds the record for most major titles won by a male player, emphasized that his approach remains centered on his own physical readiness. He added that when he feels healthy and can maintain a high level through a two-week event, he backs himself against anyone. 'Because I feel like if I'm healthy and I'm able to maintain that level of freshness throughout the tournament—that obviously will not be the same at the beginning like it is towards the end of the tournament—but if I'm able to somehow maintain that level of freshness and progress, then I feel like I have always a very good chance. And I've proven that in Australia this year where I was close to win another slam. So I always have that belief in me when I'm on the court,' he said.
Djokovic's Road to the 2026 French Open
The Serbian star enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed, having missed much of the early clay-court season due to minor niggles. However, his performance at the Australian Open earlier this year reminded the tennis world of his enduring class. Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner in a grueling semifinal before falling to Alcaraz in the final—a match that many considered an instant classic. That loss, combined with his recent injury setbacks, has fueled doubts about his ability to win a 25th major on the slow clay of Paris. But Djokovic remains defiant.
His first-round opponent is Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a French wild card with a big serve but limited experience at this level. Djokovic is expected to advance comfortably, but his true test will likely come in the later rounds against players like Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, or Jannik Sinner. With Alcaraz out of the draw, Djokovic avoids a potential semifinal or final encounter with the man who beat him in Melbourne. Still, he insists that his focus is internal: 'I don't think about the draw. I think about my game, my recovery, and what I can control.'
Medvedev's Realistic Take
Daniil Medvedev, the No. 6 seed, offered a different perspective. The Russian has struggled historically on clay, with his best result at Roland Garros being a quarterfinal appearance. His game—based on deep returns and flat groundstrokes—is less suited to the slow, high-bouncing clay than to hard courts or grass. In his pre-tournament comments, Medvedev was blunt: 'I'll be honest, for me it doesn't make a difference because it's Roland Garros; I've never been in the semis here. I take it a match at a time. Of course, if I'm in semis and I play Jannik and maybe you know that Carlos isn't there on the other side, you're like 'Okay maybe it's kind of an easier challenge to try to win the whole thing.' But at the moment we're not there. I'm playing my first round, which I probably lost six times at Roland Garros, so I just want to do my best and try to go further through the draw.'
Medvedev's honesty reflects his realistic assessment of his own capabilities on clay. He has only reached the quarterfinals once in nine appearances, and his game often breaks down against heavy topspin and prolonged rallies. Yet he remains a dangerous opponent for anyone, having won the US Open in 2021 and reached the final of the Australian Open twice. His first-round match is against Adam Walton, a qualifier from Australia. Medvedev is favored to win, but he knows that a deep run would require him to play the best clay-court tennis of his career.
Despite downplaying the impact of Alcaraz's absence, Medvedev expressed admiration for the young Spaniard. 'But in general I would say I hope he comes back fast. We know he's not playing Wimbledon, so I hope he comes back as fast as possible with what he has, I'm not sure what he has. Because we love to see him both in the locker room and on court as well,' he added.
The Missing Champion: Carlos Alcaraz's Dominance at Roland Garros
Carlos Alcaraz burst onto the scene in 2022, winning the US Open, and followed that up with his first French Open title in 2023. He defended the title in 2025, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final in five sets. His combination of explosive power, relentless athleticism, and tactical maturity made him the clear favorite for a third consecutive title in Paris. The wrist injury he suffered at the Barcelona Open—where he pulled out during his quarterfinal match against Lorenzo Musetti—has dealt a significant blow to the tournament's star power. Alcaraz also withdrew from the Madrid Open and later confirmed he would miss Rome, the French Open, and the entire grass-court season, including Wimbledon.
His absence reshapes the tournament narrative. Instead of a blockbuster potential clash between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—who is now the No. 1 seed and the tournament favorite—the focus shifts to Sinner's quest for his first French Open title. The Italian has been in sublime form, winning the Australian Open earlier this year and reaching the final in Rome. Without Alcaraz, Sinner's path appears more straightforward, though he still faces threats from Djokovic, Medvedev, Zverev, and Tsitsipas.
Historical Context: The French Open Without a Defending Champion
It is rare for a two-time defending champion to miss the French Open. The last time a defending champion did not participate was in 2016, when Stan Wawrinka skipped due to injury after winning in 2015. More recently, Rafael Nadal's absence in 2024 due to injury marked a similar void, but Nadal had dominated the tournament for nearly two decades. Alcaraz's absence is particularly notable because he represents the next generation of clay-court excellence. His rivalry with Sinner is widely expected to define the next era of men's tennis, and fans were eager to see them clash again in Paris.
The tournament organizers have scrambled to adjust, marketing the event around Sinner, Djokovic, and the ever-popular Rafael Nadal, though Nadal is also struggling with injuries and is not in the draw. The lack of Alcaraz also opens up opportunities for players like Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, and Andrey Rublev, who have yet to win a Grand Slam but have excelled on clay.
Djokovic's Pursuit of History
For Novak Djokovic, the 2026 French Open represents another chance to cement his legacy. At 39 years old, he is still chasing Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles (he has 24, but he needs to win one more to break the tie with Court, who holds 24 in the open era and 60 total, though the record is often debated). More specifically, he aims to become the oldest French Open champion in history. Currently, that record belongs to Rafael Nadal, who won his last title in 2022 at age 36. Djokovic's physical resilience has been tested, but his mental fortitude remains unmatched. He enters the tournament with a 2-1 record in French Open finals, having won in 2016 and 2021, and losing to Nadal in 2020 and Alcaraz in 2025.
The path through the draw is complicated. Djokovic is seeded third, meaning he could face Sinner in the semifinals if both advance that far. Without Alcaraz, Djokovic may have a clearer route to the final, but his recent injury history is a cause for concern. He withdrew from Paris-Bercy in 2025 and missed the 2026 Australian Open warm-up events. His performance in Melbourne—where he beat Sinner but lost to Alcaraz—showed that he is still capable of elite tennis, but consistency over seven matches on clay will be a challenge.
Medvedev's Clay-Court Evolution
Daniil Medvedev has gradually improved his clay-court results. After years of struggling, he reached the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025, and won his first title on clay at the 2024 Italian Open. However, his game is still not naturally suited to the surface. He relies on flat, deep shots and a serve that can be neutralized on slow clay. His movement is excellent, but he often finds himself on the defensive against heavy topspin. Friday's match against Adam Walton will be a test of his patience and ability to construct points. Medvedev's mental toughness is his greatest weapon, and he thrives in the role of the underdog.
If Medvedev can survive the first week, he could conceivably make a run to the semifinals, where Sinner or Djokovic would likely await. His past matches against both players have been competitive, but on clay, he still has a losing record against them. Medvedev's comments about taking it match by match reflect his genuine approach; he rarely looks ahead in Grand Slams, and that discipline has carried him far.
The Tournament Outlook Without Alcaraz
The French Open men's draw has lost its biggest star, but the tournament remains compelling. Jannik Sinner enters as the heavy favorite, with Novak Djokovic as the experienced challenger and Daniil Medvedev as a potential spoiler. The absence of Alcaraz also gives more visibility to players like Alexander Zverev, who is seeking his first Grand Slam, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who reached the final in 2021. The early rounds will be full of intriguing matchups, and the depth of the field means that upsets are likely.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the top seeds handle the absence of the two-time champion. Both Djokovic and Medvedev have publicly stated that it does not change their preparation, but the mental impact of knowing that the toughest obstacle on clay is not present cannot be dismissed. As the tournament unfolds, the true effect of Alcaraz's withdrawal will become clear. For now, the focus is on the players who are here, ready to compete for one of the most prestigious titles in the sport.
Source: Yahoo Sports News