Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz will return to competition at the 2026 US Open in New York following a 138-day absence due to a wrist injury.
The layoff marks the longest stoppage of the 23-year-old Spaniard's professional career. Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion from Murcia, has missed four and a half months of tour play since suffering the wrist injury.
His forced absence saw him miss a string of major tournaments, including the Conde de Godo, the Mutua Madrid Open, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen's, and Wimbledon, where he was a former champion. He was also sidelined for the Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati.
Agassi praise and Djokovic documentary
Alcaraz returns to Flushing Meadows amid intense global anticipation, heightened by high-profile praise from eight-time Grand Slam legend Andre Agassi. Speaking in the Amazon Prime documentary Novak Djokovic: The Winter Wolf, directed by Jason Hehir, Agassi offered a striking assessment of the young Spaniard's talent.
Agassi said that Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal played tennis in very different ways and were all great in their own right. He noted that Alcaraz is now able to play like Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal whenever he chooses, adding that the overall level of the sport is improving.
In earlier comments, Agassi went even further, describing Alcaraz as moving like a UFO on the court. He remarked that Alcaraz does not play defensively even when pushed into the corner, asserting that the Spaniard possesses all the qualities of tennis's Big Three, and perhaps even more.
US Open field changes and contender doubts
The landscape for the tournament in New York shifted significantly on August 22 when world number one Jannik Sinner confirmed his withdrawal. The Italian has not played since the Wimbledon final on July 12 due to a right knee injury, explaining that despite working hard with his team and medical staff, he was forced to take the difficult decision to skip this year's US Open.
Sinner's withdrawal leaves other key contenders facing questions over form and physical fitness. Novak Djokovic enters the tournament following a first-round defeat in Cincinnati to an opponent ranked 50th in the world. Djokovic later revealed an ongoing health condition that has bothered him over recent years, particularly in conditions of high heat and humidity. Alexander Zverev also arrives in New York with lingering doubts surrounding his current level of play.
Mixed doubles return with Serena Williams
Alcaraz's stated target for the tournament is to rebuild his competitive rhythm during the opening rounds before assessing whether he can challenge for an eighth Grand Slam title. To prepare for his comeback, Alcaraz spent recent weeks in Murcia undergoing training sessions of up to four hours with Denmark's Holger Rune, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
Former US Open champion Andy Roddick, who had previously expressed doubts about Alcaraz's return, labelled the Spaniard the most exciting player in tennis. Roddick suggested Alcaraz play mixed doubles to build match sharpness before entering the singles draw.
Alcaraz will follow that exact plan by competing in the US Open mixed doubles tournament alongside Serena Williams, entry confirmed via wildcard. Together, the pair hold 46 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles, with Williams a five-time champion of the tournament in that format joining the two-time US Open singles winner for his official return to competitive tennis.
