Carlos Alcaraz to return at 2026 US Open after four-month wrist injury

Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion and world No. 2, has confirmed he will end a four-month absence from tennis to compete at the 2026 US Open. The 23-year-old Spanish star announced his return to the tour on Thursday, August 20, ending speculation about when he would play again after a persistent right wrist injury.

Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, was last in action on April 14 at the Barcelona Open. He won a match but appeared to struggle with his wrist, subsequently withdrawing from the tournament. The injury forced him to miss the entire European clay-court season, including the French Open, where he was the two-time defending champion, and Wimbledon. He also skipped hard-court events in Toronto and Cincinnati this month.

The player confirmed his comeback via social media in a collaboration with football content creator Fabrizio Romano, adopting Romano's signature "Here we go" phrase. In a statement, Alcaraz said he was "Ready to come back" at Flushing Meadows. His return was initially targeted for Cincinnati, but he and his team opted to extend his recovery period to ensure full fitness.

The US Open, the year's final Grand Slam, begins on August 30, with the...