After 138 days on the sidelines through injury, Carlos Alcaraz is set to make his comeback. The Spaniard will compete at the US Open in New York, where he will look to defend the title he won last year.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
The tennis world can look forward to the return of Carlos Alcaraz. The 23-year-old Spaniard has officially confirmed that he will compete at this year’s US Open in New York. After 138 days without an official match, it is now clear: the current world No. 3 is returning to the biggest stage in tennis.
Alcaraz announced his participation on social media with a short but unmistakable message: “HERE WE GO!”, accompanied by the US flag.
138 Days Without Competitive Tennis
Alcaraz’s last official match came on 14 April at the Barcelona Open against Finland’s Otto Virtanen. Although the Spaniard won the match 6-4, 6-2, he was already experiencing problems with his right hand and wrist during the match.
The following day, Alcaraz withdrew from the remainder of the tournament. Medical examinations confirmed an injury to his right wrist, forcing the Spaniard to spend a lengthy period on the sidelines.
The injury cost him a large part of the season. Alcaraz was forced to miss Madrid, Rome, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, and he also sat out the hard-court tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati.
His comeback in New York, after 138 days on the sidelines, is therefore set to be one of the most eagerly anticipated moments of this summer’s tennis season.
The Crucial Test in Murcia
Alcaraz was determined not to rush his comeback. A return at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament had initially been considered, but his team ultimately decided to continue his preparations and avoid taking any unnecessary risks.
In recent days, the Spaniard has significantly increased the intensity of his training. One particularly telling session came alongside Denmark’s Holger Rune in Murcia. The demanding workout was designed to replicate as closely as possible the conditions and intensity Alcaraz can expect at a Grand Slam tournament.
The tests appear to have gone well. Only after Alcaraz and his team were satisfied that his wrist could withstand the demands of high-intensity competition did they make the decision to head to New York.
Straight Back onto the Biggest Stage
What is particularly remarkable is that Alcaraz will compete at the US Open without having played an official warm-up tournament beforehand.
Normally, players use smaller tournaments after a lengthy injury lay-off to regain their competitive rhythm. Alcaraz, however, is going straight into a Grand Slam, where he will face best-of-five-set matches, intense physical demands and potentially seven matches over the course of two weeks.
The big question, therefore, will not only be whether his right hand remains pain-free. Equally crucial will be how his body responds to the demands of a Grand Slam tournament.
Alcaraz Will Look to Defend his Title
Alcaraz’s return to New York carries particular significance. The Spaniard is the reigning US Open champion and has won the tournament twice already – in 2022 and 2025.
From 30 August to 13 September, he will therefore be competing not only for another Grand Slam title, but also for the 2,000 ranking points awarded for his triumph at last year’s tournament.
During his injury lay-off, Alcaraz lost valuable ranking points and slipped behind Alexander Zverev to third in the world rankings. Jannik Sinner remains at the top. A strong run in New York could therefore significantly alter the battle for the world No. 1 spot.
A Comeback with Many Questions Remaining
Despite the positive news, Alcaraz’s return remains a challenge. The Spaniard has not played an official match since April, making it difficult to predict how quickly he will be able to rediscover his usual level.
His training performances have offered plenty of encouragement. At the same time, intense training is very different from competing in a Grand Slam match under competitive conditions. Above all, the durability of his right wrist will be under the spotlight in New York. Each step further into the tournament should reveal just how far Alcaraz is from returning to his previous best.
A Crucial Moment for the Spanish Tennis Star
For Alcaraz, the return is nevertheless excellent news. His season had got off to a promising start before the injury abruptly halted his progress. Now, the Spaniard has the opportunity to make a fresh start in the second half of the season.
The US Open will be about far more than just another tournament. For Alcaraz, New York marks the beginning of a new chapter: 138 days after his last official match, the defending champion is returning – straight onto the biggest stage.
