Alcaraz on Paris: Next Exam Will Be Decisive

By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, April 20, 2026
Photo credit: Carlos Alvarez/Getty for Laureus

Carlos Alcaraz held the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award in his left hand.

A cast covered Alcaraz’s right wrist.

World No. 2 Alcaraz celebrated winning the prestigious Sportsman of the Year honors in Madrid tonight and suggested his status for defending his Roland Garros title could be determined after further exams on his right wrist this week.

The 22-year-old Spanish superstar pulled out of the Barcelona Open after sustaining the right wrist injury in his opening-round win over Otto Virtanen. Alcaraz subsequently said the wrist issue was worse than initially thought when he withdrew from this week’s Mutua Madrid Open.

Meeting the media the Laureus Awards, Alcaraz said exams this week will be key to determining if he plays Roland Garros in Paris next month.

“The next exam will be decisive,” Alcaraz said. “Examinations are scheduled in the coming days and we will then see the evolution of the injury and the next steps.

“For now, I’m trying to stay positive and optimistic even though these days seem endless.”

Alcaraz was reunited with rival Jannik Sinner, who dethroned him to win his maiden Monte-Carlo championship and regain the world No. 1 ranking, and Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Djokovic co-hosted the awards with Olympian Eileen Gu.