What they haven't told us about Alcaraz's wrist injury

Jose Morón | 20 May 2026 | 19.04

What they haven't told us about Alcaraz's wrist injury. Photo: Getty

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Much has been said in the last 24 hours about the injury to Carlos Alcaraz, and there have been people with ill intentions taking advantage of the situation to spread some negativity. Speculation has been rife about how long Carlitos could be out. The truth is, we will need to continue to be patient because for this specific injury, there is nothing else but to be patient.

Some are acting in bad faith, insinuating these breaks may be related to other issues that I don't even want to mention here to avoid giving them more importance than they deserve. As consumers of content, you should assess the value of such remarks, as in today's world, sensationalism and criticism sell, and there is an abundance of that nowadays. Therefore, it's crucial to be cautious about what one reads and hears because not everything is true or has good intentions.

What exactly is Carlos Alcaraz's injury?

This has been the most asked question in recent hours. Unfortunately, if Carlitos and his team have chosen not to disclose the exact nature of the injury, there must be a reason for it. Various sources indicated he was suffering from tenosynovitis, a condition we examined in detail here at Punto de Break, estimating the time he might be sidelined based on similar cases. However, this diagnosis may not completely match the reality.

We have consulted with several individuals familiar with Carlos, and they all convey the same message that they are unable to reveal anything. Some hint that the tenosynovitis that has been discussed for a month may not be the exact injury he has, suggesting there could be something more serious. This uncertainty adds another layer to the situation before us.

The wrist is a very delicate joint that should raise alarms for any tennis player at the slightest hint of a problem. There have been cases in this sport where a player who did not manage or treat properly an injury in that area ended up regretting it and crushing their aspirations, like the case of Thiem, for instance. And obviously, no one desires that.

Has Rafa Nadal given an important clue?

To glean more about Carlos's injury, we have to go back a few days ago. Rafa Nadal spoke to RNE microphones at the opening of his new museum and mentioned something worth analyzing.

"Luckily, it's not a chronic injury, right? It's something I know well because I've broken what he has now twice," Rafa commented in an interview by our colleague Javi de Diego. This statement has quietly passed through much of the internet without much scrutiny of what the Mallorcan is saying. "He has broken what I broke twice." It's the first time we hear the word "break" when referring to Alcaraz's injury.

🎾🎾🎾 @RafaelNadal has given us several clues about @carlosalcaraz's injury

👉 "I broke what he has now twice."
pic.com/K1MuTgMqt1
— Javier de Diego (@dediegoYpunto) May 14, 2026

Would a break pose a more significant problem than the tenosynovitis initially discussed?

As we explained a month ago, tenosynovitis is a significant inflammation in the sheath covering his wrist tendon, requiring rest and various treatments to alleviate the pain. A break, on the other hand, escalates the severity significantly. It represents a more serious issue, although it may be preferable to have a break rather than enduring prolonged inflammation that could become chronic.

Looking back at Nadal's injury history and recalling discussions surrounding his wrist injury, there was no mention of a break. The information shared at that time was about Nadal suffering from extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendonitis, possibly with a sub-sheath lesion of the ECU. This ECU tendon is crucial for the wrist's stability in rotational and striking movements.

Nadal returned after about two and a half months, pushing himself to compete at the Olympics, although not at his peak. His efforts during that tournament led to later withdrawal, relinquishing the remainder of the season for a complete recovery. He essentially played only a month between June and January of the following year.

No break was officially reported in Nadal's case. It's well known that tennis medical teams no longer disclose medical reports, and it's rare to see announced recovery times or detailed injury information. The reasoning behind this remains unknown. Perhaps it's to avoid giving competitors insights, but the constant speculation and noise online following incidents like yesterday's announcement of his withdrawal from the clay court season only fuel confusion, making it challenging to discern credible information.

Putting pieces of the puzzle together, it's possible that Rafa never revealed he had a tendon break in his wrist to prevent rivals from gaining unwarranted information. It might also have slipped out in his RNE interview the other day that Alcaraz suffered a similar injury to his, a break, a term unheard of until then. It's conceivable that it was just a slip of the tongue, but the subsequent efforts to clarify and adding the word "problem" after "break" suggest that this slip might have provided a crucial clue about Alcaraz's current situation.

Considering a possible break, as hinted by Rafa, sheds light on the current circumstances and reasonably explains his withdrawal from Wimbledon despite a month and a half remaining. If it were just inflammation, which recedes almost daily, one wouldn't pull out of a significant tournament so far in advance. With a break, knowing the different processes and recovery times required, everything aligns.

Further reinforcing these clues, Rafa mentioned in his documentary presentation that the injury Alcaraz currently has he also suffered twice (although the term 'break' wasn't explicitly included). However, he noted something insightful. "The best part about this injury is that it's not something that can become chronic. It's something you recover from and move on. It's not like my foot issue. You heal, and you can carry on," Rafa remarked.

Inflammations, if that's what Carlos is dealing with, can become chronic if the underlying issue isn't resolved. Confirming it's not a potential chronic condition like a break provides assurance that recovery will be complete without future concerns resurfacing.

Following this line of thought, approaching Alcaraz's injury with caution is paramount. The wrist demands meticulous attention. Without Roland Garros or Wimbledon, the target becomes the US Open, where he defends his title. If he makes it, great. If not, perhaps it's not a bad idea to skip the entire season, prioritizing his career over immediate returns.

A tennis player's journey is akin to a marathon. Rushing back prematurely could jeopardize a career with potentially over a decade to unfold. A couple of months more or less can be critical in Carlos Alcaraz's career trajectory, emphasizing the importance of a careful return, ensuring optimal health to make informed decisions on future engagements and the physical demands he places on his body to prevent a recurrence of the current situation.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Lo que no nos han contado de la lesión de Alcaraz en la muñeca