Carlos Alcaraz Set to Return, Begins US Open Title Defence After Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz is set to make his much-awaited return to competitive tennis at the US Open, where the defending champion will begin his title defence after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been out of action since April with a right wrist injury, forcing him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. On Thursday, Alcaraz appeared to confirm that his comeback was imminent, posting “Here we go” on social media alongside a picture of himself in front of the US Open logo.

The 23-year-old Spaniard had enjoyed a spectacular start to the season before injury disrupted his campaign. He won the Australian Open and began the year with a 22-3 record before withdrawing from the Barcelona Open after winning his opening match.

Alcaraz has remained ranked No. 2 despite his extended absence. He had been training on hard courts and appeared close to returning during the build-up to the US Open, but withdrew from the Cincinnati Open, raising questions about whether he would enter the Grand Slam without sufficient match practice.

His return adds considerable intrigue to the year's final Grand Slam, particularly with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner also recovering from injury. Sinner has not played since winning Wimbledon and pulled out of Cincinnati with a right knee injury, saying he would focus on being ready for New York.

Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated the Grand Slam rivalry in recent years, meeting in the French Open and Wimbledon finals in 2025. Their fitness could have a major bearing on the tournament.

New York holds special significance for Alcaraz. He won his maiden Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest man to reach No. 1 in the ATP rankings at 19. Last year, he defeated Sinner to claim his second US Open crown.

Now, Alcaraz returns with a title to defend and a major question to answer: can he regain his best form quickly after months away?