Jannik Sinner reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s French Open withdrawal: 'Tennis is a much better sport when he’s around'

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has shared his thoughts on Carlos Alcaraz’s injury, saying that the sport is not the same without the young Spaniard. Speaking about Alcaraz’s absence, Sinner said that "tennis needs Carlos" and added that the game becomes more exciting for him when he is part of the draw.

Sinner also said that he enjoys competing in tournaments where Alcaraz is present, as it changes how he looks at matches and possible outcomes. He mentioned that if the two meet, it is usually in the final stages, which makes their rivalry even more special for fans.

"I think what’s most important is to say that, first of all, tennis needs Carlos. Tennis is a much better sport when he’s around. For me personally it’s nice when he’s around. It makes me look also in the draw and see the matches in a different way, even though if I would face Carlos it would always be in the final," he said.

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Alcaraz has been ruled out of the 2026 French Open after suffering a right wrist injury. The injury happened during his first-round match at the Barcelona Open on April 14, and it turned out to be more serious than first expected. Since then, he has withdrawn from multiple tournaments, including the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.

Sinner says wrist injuries are the worst

Talking about the injury, Sinner admitted that wrist problems can be very difficult for tennis players. He said that certain parts of the body, especially the wrist, are very sensitive and can cause long-term issues if not handled carefully. He also pointed out that many players in the past have struggled with similar injuries.

"I do believe he’s going to come back stronger than before. But injuries are always tough, especially a wrist. There’s certain areas of our body what are very sensitive. The wrist, we saw with also other players in the past, that they can complicate our life. So I hope he’s going to come back and he will not have any further injuries," he added.

Alcaraz was seen wearing a wrist brace recently at the Laureus World Sports Awards, where he was named World Sportsman of the Year. This raised more concerns about his fitness and recovery timeline.