Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev have both downplayed the impact of Carlos Alcaraz's absence at the 2026 French Open, albeit for different reasons. Despite his status as the two-time defending champion, Alcaraz was forced to pull out of Roland Garros due to a wrist injury he sustained at the Barcelona Open. The same issue has also ruled the Spaniard out of the upcoming grass swing, including the Wimbledon Championships.

Novak Djokovic’s Perspective

During his pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic made it clear that Alcaraz's absence did not affect his approach to the French Open, emphasizing that his primary concern remained his own fitness. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has been battling various physical issues over the past six to eight months, including a persistent elbow problem and a minor knee setback earlier in the year. These challenges forced him to skip several events and adjust his training regimen.

“Well, he’s a two-time defending champion of Roland Garros. It’s a big blow for the tournament not to have him. Whether that changes my approach to this tournament, I don’t think it does significantly change to be honest because I’ve been through challenging times with my body in the last six to eight months. So that was my primary focus or concern, not really thinking about whether I have better chances or not with Carlos,” he said.

Djokovic added that when he is physically fit, he backs himself to contend for the title, citing his impressive run at the 2026 Australian Open. In Melbourne, he defeated Jannik Sinner in a thrilling semi-final before falling short against Alcaraz in the final. That performance reaffirmed his belief in his ability to win another major, despite the growing challenge from younger stars.

“Because I feel like if I’m healthy and I’m able to maintain that level of freshness throughout the tournament that obviously will not be the same at the beginning like it is towards the end of the tournament, but if I’m able to somehow maintain that level of freshness and progress, then I feel like I have always a very good chance. And I’ve proven that in Australia this year where I was close to win another slam. So, I always have that belief in me when I’m on the court,” he added.

Djokovic’s comments also reflect a broader strategy: rather than focusing on the absence of a key rival, he is concentrating on his own recovery and preparation. Over the years, Djokovic has often spoken about the importance of mental resilience, and this approach seems to be a continuation of that philosophy. His career has been defined by his ability to channel adversity into motivation, and the current situation is no exception.

Daniil Medvedev’s Take

Medvedev also insisted that the world No. 2’s absence made little difference to him, though for a contrasting reason. He highlighted his struggles at Roland Garros, pointing out that he wouldn’t have had to worry about facing Alcaraz unless he managed to put together a deep run. Medvedev has never advanced past the quarter-finals in Paris, and his clay-court game has historically been inconsistent.

“I’ll be honest, for me it doesn’t make a difference because it’s Roland Garros, I’ve never been in the semis here. I take it a match at a time. Of course, if I’m in semis and I play Jannik and maybe you know that Carlos isn’t there on the other side, you’re like ‘Okay maybe it’s kind of an easier challenge to try to win the whole thing.’ But at the moment we’re not there. I’m playing my first round, which I probably lost 6 times at Roland Garros so I just want to do my best and try to go further through the draw,” Medvedev said.

Despite his relative lack of success on clay, Medvedev has shown glimpses of improvement. In 2025, he reached the fourth round at Roland Garros, only to be eliminated in a five-set thriller by Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Russian’s game, built on deep returns and relentless defense, can be effective on slower surfaces, but he has often struggled with the high bounce and heavy topspin that characterize clay-court tennis. His determination to take it one match at a time underscores a pragmatic approach, one that has served him well in other Grand Slams where he has been more successful.

Nevertheless, Medvedev wished a speedy return for the 23-year-old, saying that he was missed both on the court and in the locker room. Alcaraz’s charisma and fighting spirit have made him a popular figure among his peers, and Medvedev’s words echoed that sentiment.

“But in general I would say I hope he comes back fast. We know he’s not playing Wimbledon so I hope he comes back as fast as possible with what he has, I’m not sure what he has. Because we love to see him both in the locker room and on court as well,” he added.

Alcaraz’s Injury and Its Impact

Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the French Open marks a significant blow to the tournament, as he had won the title in both 2024 and 2025, establishing himself as the dominant force on clay. The wrist injury, diagnosed as a torn ligament in his right wrist, occurred during his quarter-final match against Alex de Minaur at the Barcelona Open. Alcaraz tried to play through the pain but eventually retired, and subsequent scans confirmed the severity of the issue.

This injury also forced him to pull out of the Madrid Open, where he was the defending champion, and the entire grass-court season, including Wimbledon. For Alcaraz, who had been riding a wave of success—including his Australian Open victory earlier in 2026—the layoff is a frustrating setback. At just 23 years old, he has already achieved remarkable milestones, but his career has been punctuated by occasional injury interruptions. In 2024, he missed the Australian Open due to a hamstring problem, yet he bounced back to win Roland Garros and the US Open that same year.

The absence of Alcaraz reshuffles the draw at Roland Garros. Without him, Jannik Sinner becomes the clear favorite, but the field remains deep with contenders like Djokovic, Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and emerging players such as Holger Rune and Ben Shelton. Djokovic, seeded third, will begin his campaign against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while Medvedev, seeded sixth, faces Adam Walton. Both players are aiming to capitalize on a more open draw, but their paths are fraught with challenges.

Historical Context

Djokovic’s pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title has been one of the defining narratives of the 2026 season. After falling just short in Australia, he is eager to add to his record tally. His clay-court credentials are impeccable: he has won the French Open three times, most recently in 2023, and has reached the final on several other occasions. However, his recent injury struggles have raised questions about whether he can sustain the required level over two weeks.

Medvedev, meanwhile, is searching for his second Grand Slam title. His only major victory came at the 2021 US Open, and he has since reached two other finals, both lost to Djokovic. His game is better suited to hard courts, but a deep run at Roland Garros would be a statement of his versatility. His first-round opponent, Adam Walton, is a qualifier ranked outside the top 100, giving Medvedev a chance to build confidence.

As the tournament unfolds, the absence of Alcaraz will undoubtedly be a talking point. But as Djokovic and Medvedev have made clear, they are not letting it distract them from their own ambitions. The French Open remains one of the most unpredictable Grand Slams, and with the defending champion out, the door is open for new champions to emerge.

Source: Yahoo Sports News