Why Carlos Alcaraz is not playing at Wimbledon 2026
Carlos Alcaraz is not playing at Wimbledon 2026 because he is still recovering from a right wrist injury suffered on April 14 at the Barcelona Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion withdrew in May, saying he is still not ready to compete after also missing the French Open and Queen's Club. For fans asking about alcaraz playing wimbledon 2026, the answer is a medical withdrawal—not a ban—from the grass-court Grand Slam that begins June 29 at the All England Club.
Key Takeaways
- Alcaraz confirmed his Wimbledon withdrawal on May 19 due to an ongoing right wrist injury.
- He has not played since hurting his wrist during a first-round win in Barcelona on April 14.
- He is not banned; 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova faces a separate four-year ITIA suspension.
- World No. 2 Alcaraz will be replaced in the men's draw by Britain's Jan Choinski.
- As many as 16 prominent players are missing from SW19 this year for various reasons.
What happened to Carlos Alcaraz's wrist?
Alcaraz injured his right wrist during his April 14 first-round victory at the Barcelona Open and withdrew from that tournament the following day. E! News reported that scans showed the problem was more serious than any of us expected, prompting him to skip the Madrid Open, Rome Masters and the French Open.
He said he had to listen to my body and avoid it affecting me in the future. The 23-year-old Spaniard has not competed professionally since the Barcelona injury.
When did Alcaraz confirm his Wimbledon withdrawal?
On May 19, Alcaraz posted on X: My recovery is going well and I'm feeling much better, but unfortunately I'm still not ready to compete. He added that Queen's Club and Wimbledon are two truly special tournaments for me and I will miss them a lot.
Wimbledon 2026 gets underway June 29 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, according to E! News. Alcaraz won back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2023 and 2024 before losing the 2025 final to Jannik Sinner.
Is Carlos Alcaraz banned from Wimbledon?
No. Wales Online noted that as many as 16 leading players are absent from SW19 this year for different reasons, but Alcaraz's situation is injury-related. Headlines grouping him with barred players refer to separate cases—notably Vondrousova, who received a four-year International Tennis Integrity Agency suspension after refusing an out-of-competition anti-doping test in December 2025.
Sports integrity rulings can draw the same scrutiny as unsolved mysteries and misconduct cases, but Alcaraz has faced no disciplinary action.
Who replaces Alcaraz in the Wimbledon 2026 draw?
According to The Economic Times withdrawal list, Carlos Alcaraz (world No. 2) is replaced by Jan Choinski (world No. 100). The men's field opens with defending champion Sinner among the favorites, with Alcaraz's absence removing a two-time former champion from contention.
Despite months away, Alcaraz remains ranked No. 2 globally, still more than 2,200 points ahead of French Open champion Alexander Zverev, E! News reported. Fans will watch whether he can defend his U.S. Open title later this summer once his wrist fully heals.