Feliciano Lopez sounds alarm on Carlos Alcaraz injury ahead of French Open title defense

Tournament director Feliciano Lopez has sounded the alarm over the extent of Carlos Alcaraz’s injury, which forced him to withdraw from Barcelona after just one match and miss his home Masters 1000 event in Madrid.

The former Top 20 player, now Mutua Madrid Open tournament director, shared his insight on what he described as “a typical tennis injury” in an interview with Radioestadio Noche.

“I’ve had that injury… I was out for two months, more or less,” Lopez said on Monday.

“I’m not sure the extent of his injury... When I had to stop I could barely hold a racquet in my hand. He was able to finish the match and have a few days (to rest).”

Read More: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic withdraw from Madrid Open citing injuries

It marks another setback in Alcaraz’s up-and-down clay-court swing, typically the Spaniard’s most successful stretch of the season. He reached the final in Monte Carlo but fell to rival Jannik Sinner, a match that also saw the Italian regain the world No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz then moved on to Barcelona, where he won his opening match but played with heavy strapping on his wrist.

The injury ultimately forced him to pull out of Barcelona, and days later he also announced his withdrawal from the Mutua Madrid Open—the second consecutive year he has missed the event.

Lopez made it clear he had not spoken directly with Alcaraz or his medical team, but emphasized that the timing of the injury could put his Roland Garros title defense in doubt.

“I wish him the best and I hope he recovers as soon as possible, because this is an important season for him,” Lopez added.

“It’s true that Carlos can win on any court, but there’s Madrid, another Masters 1000 in Rome, and Roland Garros, where he’s the defending champion. So there are 4,000 points at stake in three very prestigious tournaments.

“So Madrid is out, Rome seems almost impossible to me. Hopefully he will be fit for Roland Garros.”

Read More: With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic out of Madrid, who can stop streaking Jannik Sinner?

Adding to the concern, Alcaraz was spotted wearing a brace on his right hand during a Monday morning outing in Albacete, Spain.

He posed smiling with restaurant staff in photos shared on social media by Los Chopos, a popular highway stop on the road to Madrid.

In the images, he is seen wearing a rigid splint on his wrist and forearm, with straps keeping the hand and wrist fixed in place—a device typically used for wrist fractures, severe sprains or ligament injuries, and sometimes for post-surgical immobilization.

Alcaraz is next scheduled to compete in Rome at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, which begins May 6, while Roland Garros starts May 24. He is the defending champion at both tournaments.