A Long Road Back to the Court
Carlos Alcaraz is preparing to defend his US Open title in New York after a four-month absence caused by a right wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona Open on April 14. The 23-year-old Spaniard announced his return through a joint Instagram post with football transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, and topped it off with a cheeky nod to Romano's famous catchphrase, posting "here we go!" alongside an American flag emoji and a plane on X.
The injury came at a particularly painful moment. Alcaraz had just won the Australian Open in January, beating Novak Djokovic in four sets to become the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam. He followed that with a title at the Qatar Open in February, but results at Indian Wells and Miami were disappointing before his season ground to a halt in Barcelona.
Where Things Stand Heading Into Flushing Meadows
Alcaraz has slipped from world number two during his absence, with Alexander Zverev moving ahead of him in the rankings. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, who beat Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo Masters final this year, extended his lead at the top by winning Wimbledon in July. Interestingly, Sinner also enters the US Open short on hard-court preparation after withdrawing from the Cincinnati Open with a knee injury.
Alcaraz has been training carefully, recently hitting at his home courts in Murcia alongside Denmark's Holger Rune, who is also recovering from injury. Alcaraz may additionally enter the mixed doubles event the week before the main draw, though no partner has been confirmed.
TennisDraw users will be closely watching whether Alcaraz can be trusted as a bracket favorite given his extended layoff.
