Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, confirmed on Thursday that he will compete at the 2026 US Open. The 23-year-old Spaniard has not played a competitive match since April, when tenosynovitis in his right wrist forced him to miss both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Flushing Meadows, which opens its doors on August 30, will mark his long-awaited comeback.
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Four months away from competition
Alcaraz sustained the injury during the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 in April. The diagnosis, an inflammation of the right wrist tendon, required an extended rest period followed by a gradual rehabilitation program. The Spaniard resumed training over the summer and has stepped up his practice sessions in recent weeks, enough for his medical team to clear his return.
The timing takes on a new dimension
Alcaraz's announcement came one day before Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, withdrew from the US Open with a right knee injury. The two rivals, who faced each other in the 2025 US Open final, will find themselves in dramatically different positions in New York: Alcaraz returns from injury with no competitive matches in four months, while Sinner will not be there at all.
Seven Grand Slam titles and the quest for an eighth
Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, won his second US Open title last year by defeating Sinner in the final. Despite his prolonged absence, he is expected to be among the top seeds thanks to the partial freeze of his ATP ranking points. The draw on August 28 will determine whether his path to a potential title puts him on a collision course with Alexander Zverev or other contenders in the top half of the bracket.
Key numbers
Alcaraz, 23, played just 19 matches in 2026 (16 wins, 3 losses) before his injury. His last appearance dates back to the second round in Monte Carlo on April 16. The Spanish champion holds two US Open titles (2024, 2025) and has never lost before the semifinals at Flushing Meadows. (Sources: ESPN, ATP Tour, Hola!, NBC Los Angeles)
