“Something beautiful awaits me when I return”: Carlos Alcaraz makes public appearance amid Roland Garros absence

Carlos Alcaraz is following Roland Garros remotely this week while continuing recovery from a wrist injury that has left him out of competition since April and unable to defend his 2025 title at the French Open at Roland Garros. The Spanish player has been absent throughout the clay season and now the transition into grass, with no confirmed return date.

His last competitive appearance came at the Barcelona Open (Conde de Godó), where he defeated Otto Virtanen in the opening round before withdrawing prior to his second-round match against Tomáš Macháč due to the wrist issue. That withdrawal triggered a wider absence from Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.

A week earlier, Alcaraz also confirmed he would not compete at Wimbledon, where he was champion in 2023 and 2024 and reached the final in 2025. The decision effectively removed him from a surface where he had established recent dominance on the ATP Tour.

On Tuesday, Alcaraz reappeared publicly at the Princesa de Girona “Congrefest” in Murcia, an event attended by Spain’s King Felipe VI. The appearance marked his first detailed public reflection since the start of his injury layoff, while he continues rehabilitation without a defined return timeline.

Alcaraz’s current absence coincides with Roland Garros, a tournament that has become central to his career progression in recent seasons. His inability to compete has shifted him from participant to observer during one of the most important stages of the tennis calendar.

He described the experience of following matches and results from home as emotionally complex, combining frustration with acceptance of circumstance. The separation from competition has also affected his daily competitive rhythm, which is normally structured around tournament preparation.

“From home I’m watching everything, I’m watching my rivals compete, the tournaments I would like to be playing in but I cannot. But, in the end, everything happens for a reason. I think it is destiny, and life will have something prepared for me when I come back, something beautiful, I hope.”

He also emphasised the reality of being physically unable to enter tournaments he normally targets, reinforcing the competitive gap created by injury. “I cannot play the tournaments I want. I’m watching my rivals compete, the tournaments I would like to be playing in but I cannot.”

At the Princesa de Girona Congrefest in Murcia, Alcaraz addressed his current situation in a public setting focused on youth development and leadership. The event, attended by King Felipe VI, provided a platform for reflection rather than competitive updates.

Alcaraz focused on motivation during recovery, highlighting daily training as a substitute for match competition while he works through rehabilitation. His emphasis remained on long-term improvement rather than immediate return.

“In my case, what motivates me is going every day to the tennis court or the gym, with huge excitement to try to give my best and improve so that it shows on court. I thank the version of myself from six or seven years ago for doing everything possible every day.”

He also revisited his early development, contrasting his current approach with his teenage mindset, where impatience dominated his relationship with results and progress. “When I was 14 I had zero patience, I wanted things from one day to the next, I wanted to win all the time, but the beautiful thing is the process.”

Alcaraz concluded his intervention with a broader message about ambition and acceptance of uncertainty, aimed primarily at younger audiences present at the event. “Think big, dream big, go for it with excitement and enjoy the process. Whatever happens, whether you achieve it or not.”

Despite speculation around a potential return during the North American hard-court swing, Alcaraz has not set a confirmed date for his comeback. His absence from Wimbledon, where he has been champion twice and reached the final last year, underlines the scale of the interruption.

The focus now remains on recovery progression rather than tournament scheduling. His absence from Roland Garros and Wimbledon marks the first extended break from Grand Slam competition during a phase in which he had been a consistent contender. For now, his competitive position remains static, with rehabilitation and physical response to training loads determining the next step in his season.