The wait continues for Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard confirmed on Tuesday his withdrawal from the Canadian Open, scheduled for early August in Montreal. Sidelined since injuring his right wrist at the Barcelona Open in April, the three-time Grand Slam champion has not competed in nearly three months.
The injury, diagnosed as an inflamed tendon sheath in his right wrist, proved more serious than initially expected. Alcaraz felt a sharp pain on a return against Otto Virtanen in Barcelona's first round. He had hoped to return for Roland-Garros, then Wimbledon. Both deadlines passed without him, and the Canadian Open becomes the third major event sacrificed.
His team has sought to calm concerns. Renowned sports physician Angel Ruiz-Cotorro evaluated the wrist and declared the healing complete. The decision to skip Montreal is a precautionary strategy, not a setback. Alcaraz has been training at his academy in Spain, posting videos of light hitting and targeted exercises.
The stated target is now the Cincinnati Masters, with the main draw starting August 13. A successful return in Ohio would give him two weeks of competition before the US Open. The world number three, who slipped behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the rankings, knows the stakes are high. Without points to defend in Montreal, the ranking damage remains contained. But every week away erodes match rhythm, and the American hard-court swing demands precision.
