Carlos Alcaraz’s 2026 clay season has taken a worrying turn to say the least. The Spaniard appeared to be in great form during his first tournament on the surface, but things have gone downhill in recent days.
After cutting short his Barcelona Open run due to a mid-match wrist injury, he pulled out of the Madrid Open, with rumors swirling about a potential extended absence. Alcaraz has now shown up in Alicante, wearing a very noticeable arm cast.
Carlos Alcaraz Spotted in Public for the First Time After Madrid Open Withdrawal Due to Injury
After an early loss at the Miami Open, Alcaraz completed an intensive training block on clay in his hometown. The Murcia native then returned to competition at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he was the defending champion. He fell one win short, losing the title and his World No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner.
Just a couple of days later, he was back in action at the Barcelona Open. The quick transition didn’t bode well for him, as he injured his right forearm en route to his first-round win against Otto Virtanen. Alcaraz promptly withdrew from the tournament thereafter.
“After seeing the results today, it turns out the injury is a little more serious than we all expected. I need to listen to my body,” he said at the time.
Days later, the Spaniard announced his Madrid Open withdrawal. “It hurts so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row. It hurts, especially not to be in front of my people, in a tournament that means so much,” he said.
On Monday, April 20, he was spotted at a restaurant in Alicante, where he smiled for a picture with a fan. What stood out was his arm cast. The worrying photograph instantly went viral, as the tennis community expressed concerns about the possible extent of his injury. It remains to be seen if he resumes his campaign during the clay swing.
Carlos Alcaraz no restaurante Los Chopos em Alicante.
(via loschopos_) pic.twitter.com/1jzwRuq87t
— Carlos Alcaraz Brasil (@carlosalcarazbr) April 20, 2026
MORE: Carlos Alcaraz Faces More Injury Risks: Boris Becker Has His Say
Despite his tennis absence, Alcaraz is expected to be in Madrid on Monday for the Laureus World Sports Awards. He has been nominated for the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ award alongside his arch-rival Jannik Sinner. Alongside the duo, five-time award winner Novak Djokovic is also scheduled to attend the event. He has been named the host alongside Chinese American freestyle skier Eileen Gu.
