Carlos Alcaraz’s long-awaited return to the US Open has once again hit the brick wall of uncertainty. Just as the Spaniard received a positive update on his injury recovery, new reports now suggest that his team is approaching the hard court season with full caution to make sure that Alcaraz makes his US Open appearance successfully, even if it means abandoning the Cincinnati Open.
Alcaraz’s right wrist is healing well, and after receiving a positive update from a renowned doctor a few weeks back, it was suggested that Alcaraz would finally make a comeback to tennis. His name has been entered in the US Open men’s singles list, but according to Medios Deportivos, his team is intentionally limiting his training to make sure that a US Open appearance is not compromised due to any new setback.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has occasionally shared updates on his recent training sessions online. In the videos, Alcaraz can be seen hitting the balls lightly and practicing for short periods, which has led many to conclude that he may not yet be ready for a full-blown tournament.
Sources close to his camp have hinted that these slow practice sessions are a deliberate choice to increase the load on his wrist slowly to avoid any abrupt reinjuries. They have also hinted that if his wrist does not perform the way it should, playing in Cincinnati might not be part of their calendar.
Alcaraz is all set to travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, but participation in the tournament is still not a guarantee. The Spaniard is the reigning Cincinnati Open champion, and to defend the title successfully, he would need an entirely pain-free wrist.
The Spaniard and his team have their eyes set on the final Slam of the year, the US Open, and every effort is being made to ensure that he steps into Flushing Meadows in great health. If Cincinnati happens, that will only help the Spaniard regain his hard-court rhythm.
Origins of Carlos Alcaraz’s Wrist Injury
Carlos Alcaraz had suffered a devastating injury to his right wrist in April during his round of 32 match against Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open. Despite the overpowering pain in his right wrist, the Spaniard managed to fight the discomfort and got a 6-4, 6-2 straight-sets victory. However, the two-time Barcelona Open champion eventually had to withdraw from the tournament.
Since then, Alcaraz has been out of action and had to pull out of the subsequent tournaments. Renowned voices from the tennis community have shown their support for the Spaniard, such as Serena Williams’ coach, Rennae Stubbs, who has urged Alcaraz to go easy on his wrist and be mindful of the long-term stakes.
With all the reports now in the open, it remains to be seen if Alcaraz will show up to compete at the Cincinnati Open, which starts in 14 days.
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