Alcaraz confirms US Open return after four-month injury layoff
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 11, 2026 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his semi final match against Monaco's Valentin Vacherot REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo
Aug 20 : Carlos Alcaraz will return to competitive tennis at the U.S. Open, ending a more than four-month absence caused by a wrist injury, in a bid to defend his title in New York.
The seven-times Grand Slam champion confirmed on Thursday that he will play the Aug. 30-Sept. 13 tournament after withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in April and missing the French Open, Wimbledon and the North American hard-court events in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Alcaraz had initially targeted Cincinnati, where he won last year, for his comeback but opted to give his wrist more time to recover. He has gradually increased his workload in recent weeks and trained with Denmark's Holger Rune in Murcia as he tested the injury at higher intensity.
His return was also given a football-style announcement by transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano on Instagram, who posted “Here we go!” alongside confirmation that Alcaraz would be back at the U.S. Open.
New York holds particular significance for Alcaraz. He won his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, becoming the youngest player to reach world number one in the ATP rankings.
