The Carlos Alcaraz injury saga took another difficult turn this week when Cincinnati Open organisers confirmed the seven-time Grand Slam champion would not compete at the ATP Masters 1000 event, leaving his US Open title defence in serious doubt. The Spaniard has not played a competitive match since his appearance at the Barcelona Open on April 14, with his last hard-court outing dating back even further to a third-round loss at the Miami Open on March 22.
With the US Open set to begin on August 30 at Flushing Meadows, the clock is ticking for Alcaraz to find some match practice before the biggest hard-court event of the year. Cincinnati was viewed as his most realistic return point, so its loss removes a critical preparation window.
However, sources close to the Alcaraz camp, cited by Spanish outlet La Verdad, insist those around the 23-year-old remain optimistic about a New York appearance. The team, which includes coach Samuel Lopez alongside doctors, physiotherapists, and family members, will collectively assess progress before committing to any decision.
The most intriguing option now on the table is a wildcard entry into the Winston-Salem Open, the ATP 250 event running from August 23 to 29 in North Carolina. Tournament organisers have four wildcards available and would reportedly welcome Alcaraz with open arms. The event would offer him a low-pressure environment to test the injured wrist and shake off the competitive rust before the Grand Slam spotlight arrives.
Alcaraz does not currently appear on the Winston-Salem entry list, but that could change quickly. World No. 22 Luciano Darderi is the top-ranked player currently in the draw.
TennisDraw users have strongly backed Alcaraz deep into their US Open bracket predictions, making his fitness status one of the most closely watched storylines of the summer.
