Carlos Alcaraz is set to make his long-awaited comeback at the US Open, ending a more than four-month absence caused by a right wrist injury.
The 23-year-old Spaniard will defend his title at the August 30-September 13 tournament in New York after confirming his participation on Thursday.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has not played a competitive match since April, when he injured his wrist during the Barcelona Open and was forced to withdraw. That setback kept him out of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the hard-court events in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Injury layoff and cautious recovery
Carlos Alcaraz initially planned to return at the Cincinnati Open, a tournament he won the previous year. He later decided to give his wrist extra recovery time. In recent weeks, he steadily increased his training load and tested higher-intensity sessions with Denmark’s Holger Rune in Murcia, Spain. Those practices helped convince him and his team that the wrist was ready for match play.
The announcement came in classic football-transfer style. Alcaraz shared a social-media post that simply declared “Here we go,” alongside a US flag emoji. The short phrase quickly spread among tennis fans who had waited months for positive news.
Why New York matters to Carlos Alcaraz
Flushing Meadows holds special meaning for the Spaniard. He captured his first Grand Slam title there in 2022 and became the youngest player to reach world No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Last year, he defeated Jannik Sinner in the final to claim a second US Open crown. He then completed the Career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in January 2026, becoming the youngest man to achieve the feat.
Despite the long layoff, Alcaraz remains ranked No. 2 in the world. His 2026 season before the injury included a strong start with the Australian Open title and solid results on the ATP Tour. Returning as the defending champion adds extra motivation, though the lack of recent match play will present its own challenges.
Looking ahead to Flushing Meadows
The US Open main draw begins on August 30. Carlos Alcaraz will step back onto the hard courts without the usual warm-up events, making the early rounds critical for finding rhythm.
His expected return also renews interest in a possible clash with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, although Sinner’s own participation remains uncertain after a knee issue forced him out of Cincinnati. Other top players will be eager to test Alcaraz after his extended break.
Alcaraz’s careful approach throughout the recovery process has been widely noted. By skipping Cincinnati and focusing on full fitness, he has given himself the best chance to compete at a high level in New York. The tennis world now waits to see whether the energetic Spaniard can recapture the form that made him a multiple major champion and one of the sport’s biggest stars.
The US Open always delivers drama, and Alcaraz’s comeback story adds another layer of excitement to this year’s event.