Carlos Alcaraz Ready for US Open Return After Wrist Layoff

BBC Sport reported that Carlos Alcaraz says he is ready to return to singles competition at the US Open after a wrist injury kept him out for more than four months. The 23-year-old Spaniard has not played a singles match since his opening appearance at the Barcelona Open on April 13.

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Alcaraz, a seven-time major champion, is due to begin his title defence in New York against Russia's Roman Safiullin. He will be seeded second despite the extended absence. The tournament begins on Sunday, and the opening contest is expected to test his readiness for best-of-five-set competition after so little recent match play.

The defending champion did return to a match court earlier this week in the US Open mixed doubles event, partnering 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams. He continues to wear a compression sleeve on his playing arm in an effort to protect the wrist as he increases the intensity of his tennis.

Alcaraz said the uncertainty surrounding his recovery was the hardest part of the layoff. He described dealing with intrusive thoughts while not knowing whether he would be ready for Cincinnati, the US Open or any part of the American hard-court swing. He now says his practice sessions have gone well and that he is trying to play normally without fear.

The wrist problem is thought to have been tenosynovitis, an inflammation of the sheath protecting a tendon on the inside of the wrist, according to BBC Sport. Such injuries can be particularly difficult for tennis players, and Alcaraz's powerful forehand places significant load through the joint. He has therefore had to be patient rather than risk returning before the injury was ready.

Alcaraz won the US Open in 2022 and again in 2025, when he beat rival Jannik Sinner in the final. He acknowledged that his preparation for this year's tournament has not been ideal but said he and his team believe he is ready. Safiullin's power should provide an immediate examination of both Alcaraz's wrist and his ability to handle the physical demands of a full singles match.