Carlos Alcaraz Is Back! Four Months After Injury, Can He Conquer the US Open Again?

Carlos Alcaraz returns to competitive tennis at the US Open on Monday, more than four months after a right wrist injury forced him out of action and ruled him out of the French Open and Wimbledon. The 23-year-old Spaniard, however, says he is ready to play the same aggressive tennis that has made him one of the sport's biggest stars.

Alcaraz has not played a competitive singles match since mid-April, but insists his mechanics have not changed and says he feels physically ready. “You're going to see Carlitos playing the way he always has,” he said. At the same time, he acknowledged that he needs actual competition after such a long absence. “I need competition,” Alcaraz said, adding that he and his team believe he is ready.

The comeback will be demanding because Alcaraz is jumping directly into best-of-five-set Grand Slam tennis without a traditional tournament build-up. He played a couple of mixed doubles matches with Serena Williams this week to shake off some rust, but admitted his preparation was far from ideal. Still, the defending champion believes there could be no better place for his return than New York.

Alcaraz enters the tournament as one of the favourites after defeating Jannik Sinner in last year's final. Sinner, who lost the No. 1 ranking to Alcaraz after that defeat, will miss this year's tournament because of a right knee injury. Alexander Zverev is the top seed in his absence.

Frances Tiafoe expects Alcaraz to attract enormous attention and warned that even if he is not at his best, he will remain difficult to beat over five sets. Zverev also expects some early rust but believes Alcaraz will become a serious contender as the tournament progresses.

Alcaraz is refusing to set a specific target. His priority is to stay healthy, trust his team and enjoy his return, while overcoming the fears that accompanied his injury layoff.