Carlos Alcaraz was front and center at the World Cup final in New Jersey, carrying the trophy onto the pitch before kick-off and watching from a prominent seat in the stands as Spain defeated Argentina to claim their second World Cup title. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal, and cameras repeatedly caught Alcaraz celebrating in the crowd. However, his supporters will have noticed something troubling: a support bandage still wrapped around his right wrist.
Alcaraz has been sidelined since April, when he picked up a wrist injury during his match against Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open. The injury forced him to withdraw from both the French Open and Wimbledon, and his recent return-to-court footage showed him only gently rallying, suggesting he remains in the early stages of rehabilitation. Despite the uncertainty, his name remains on the entry list for the Cincinnati Masters, signaling he is keeping all options open ahead of the US Open.
The sight of the wrist strap still in place for casual attendance at a football match has understandably fueled speculation that a Cincinnati return could be optimistic. Former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek offered some measured reassurance in an exclusive conversation with Tennis365, noting that wrist and elbow injuries are notoriously tricky to manage. Krajicek, who dealt with his own elbow problems during his career, emphasized that recovery is not as predictable as, say, a ligament tear, but expressed confidence that Alcaraz would ultimately return to full form. The key question, Krajicek acknowledged, is simply timing.
With the US Open fast approaching, TennisDraw users have been updating their bracket predictions frequently as Alcaraz's availability remains very much up in the air.
