Carlos Alcaraz carried the World Cup trophy onto the MetLife Stadium pitch on Sunday evening, minutes before Spain's final against Argentina. The moment might have been nothing more than a sporting celebrity cheering on his country. But one detail caught the eye: the world number 3 was wearing a brace on his right wrist, the same wrist that has kept him off the tour for three months.
The injury dates back to the Barcelona Open in April. During a match against Otto Virtanen, Alcaraz felt pain in his wrist that forced him to withdraw from the tournament. Since then, competitive silence. Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the ATP 250 clay and grass events: the Spaniard has not played an official match in nearly one hundred days. It is the longest absence of his professional career.
The images from MetLife Stadium invite two opposing readings. The optimistic view: Alcaraz is upright, smiling, capable of holding a trophy and waving to the crowd. He is in the United States, where the summer swing unfolds. The cautious reading: the brace is still there. Three months after the initial injury, his wrist still requires support. Former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek offered a candid assessment: "Wrist or elbow injuries are much tougher. It's really difficult to reset when you start playing again."
Alcaraz's name appears on the entry list for the Cincinnati Masters, scheduled for August 10-17. But an entry list is not a guarantee. The Alcaraz camp is prioritising caution, aware that a premature return could turn a manageable injury into a chronic problem. The US Open, starting August 25, remains the primary target.
Meanwhile, the tour moves on without him. Jannik Sinner has extended his lead atop the rankings to more than 5,000 points. Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime are battling for second. Alcaraz, stuck at third with no points to defend, watches his rivals accumulate results.
Spain won the World Cup on Sunday (Ferran Torres with the goal). Alcaraz is still waiting to win his own battle: returning to a tennis court pain-free.
