Heartbreak in Paris: Lorenzo Musetti, the Italian star who captured fans' hearts with his stunning run to the 2025 French Open semifinals, has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 tournament due to a thigh injury. The world No. 10 announced the news on Wednesday, leaving tennis enthusiasts disappointed just days before the clay-court major's draw ceremony on May 21.

The injury occurred during Musetti's Round of 16 loss to Casper Ruud at the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday. After a medical examination, doctors diagnosed a rectus femoris injury—a serious muscle strain that requires "several weeks of rest and recovery," as Musetti shared with his followers.

"Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to compete in Hamburg and Roland Garros—news that is incredibly hard to take," the 23-year-old Italian wrote on Instagram, his words tinged with the raw emotion of an athlete forced to sit out his home continent's biggest event. "A huge thank you to the Rome crowd for your incredible support: that's exactly why, despite not being 100%, I chose to step on court and give everything I had in my home tournament. I'll keep you updated."

Musetti's withdrawal adds to a growing list of absentees from the 2026 French Open, scheduled for May 18 to June 7 at Roland Garros. Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Musetti in four sets in last year's semifinals before claiming the title against Jannik Sinner, announced in April that he would skip the event due to a wrist injury. The absence of both semifinalists from the 2025 edition casts a shadow over what promised to be a thrilling rematch on the Parisian clay.

For tennis fashion enthusiasts, Musetti's stylish on-court looks—often featuring sleek, modern designs from his apparel sponsors—will be sorely missed on the red clay. But with time for recovery, fans can hope to see the Italian return stronger, ready to make another deep run at the sport's most prestigious tournaments.