A Long Absence and a Worrying Update
Carlos Alcaraz's hopes of defending his US Open title are hanging in the balance after a prolonged absence from the tour. The Spanish star has not completed a match since the Monte Carlo Masters in April, where he finished runner-up to Jannik Sinner. He suffered a right wrist injury during his opening-round victory at the Barcelona Open and has since been diagnosed with tenosynovitis, an inflammation of the tendon sheath surrounding the wrist.
The injury kept Alcaraz away from both Roland Garros and Wimbledon this summer, and he has also withdrawn from the Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati. With the US Open set to begin on August 30, time is running short for the reigning champion to prove his fitness.
Emilio Sanchez Offers a Cautious Outlook
Former professional Emilio Sanchez, a doubles world No. 1 and elder brother of WTA legend Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, recently offered an insider perspective on Alcaraz's condition. Speaking at an event in Santa Margherita di Pula, Sanchez revealed that Alcaraz was working at only 55 percent of full intensity in training last week. He added that a full recovery could still allow Alcaraz to show up at Flushing Meadows and surprise everyone, as the young Spaniard has done repeatedly throughout his career.
The stakes are enormous for Alcaraz, who entered 2026 in outstanding form. He won the Australian Open in January, becoming the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam, and compiled a remarkable 22-3 record before the injury struck. Recovering in time to compete for a fourth US Open crown would be a remarkable comeback story, and TennisDraw users have been watching his fitness updates closely when setting their bracket predictions.
