Carlos Alcaraz confirms return for US Open
Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed he will compete at this year’s US Open, bringing to an end a four-month spell on the sidelines caused by a right wrist injury, reports BritPanorama.
The Spaniard will arrive at Flushing Meadows as the reigning champion, seeking to retain the crown he claimed in New York last year. The tournament runs from 30 August to 13 September, marking a pivotal moment in what has been a disrupted 2026 campaign for the 22-year-old.
Alcaraz’s absence dates back to April, when he withdrew from the Barcelona Open after his opening-round victory over Otto Virtanen. The wrist problem, sustained during the first round of the Conde Godó, forced him to sit out both the French Open and Wimbledon, as well as the North American hard-court swing in Toronto and Cincinnati.
The Murcia native had originally planned to return at the Cincinnati Masters, a tournament he won in 2025. However, he ultimately decided to allow additional recovery time for the injured wrist, pushing his competitive comeback to the season’s final Grand Slam.
In the weeks leading up to his announcement, Alcaraz steadily ramped up his training load as he put the wrist through increasingly demanding sessions. As part of his preparation, he hit with Danish player Holger Rune in his home city of Murcia, using the practice to gauge how the joint responded under competitive intensity.
His return announcement carried a distinctly footballing flavour, with transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano lending his signature style to the reveal on Instagram. Flushing Meadows holds a special place in Alcaraz’s career; it was there in 2022 that he captured his maiden Grand Slam title, simultaneously becoming the youngest man ever to ascend to the top of the ATP rankings.
His 2026 season had begun in spectacular fashion before injury intervened. The Spaniard triumphed at the Australian Open, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final to become the youngest male player in history to complete the career Grand Slam. He then carried that momentum to Doha, lifting the Qatar Open trophy with a win over Arthur Fils and extending his unbeaten start to the year to 12 matches.
As Alcaraz gears up for the US Open, his journey from recovery back to competition serves as a reminder of the resilience required at the highest level. Even champions feel the weight of expectation, proving that every return to action is a blend of triumph and uncertainty.
