When does Carlos Alcaraz play next? Latest injury update as star withdraws from Cincinnati ahead of US Open
Updated 05/08/2026 at 15:42 GMT+1
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Carlos Alcaraz's injury absence at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon was keenly felt, with fans having grown accustomed to the Spaniard regularly fighting for Grand Slam titles in his inimitable, explosive style. But will Alcaraz be fit to return for the US Open?
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Video credit: SNTV
The 23-year-old has been out of action for five months with a wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona Open in April.
He has lost ground to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the ATP rankings as a result, after the Italian defended his Wimbledon title in July.
As well as two Grand Slams, Alcaraz has also missed three Masters tournaments, and briefly dropped to third in the rankings following Alexander Zverev's French Open triumph.
The Spaniard is expected to be back in action soon, but will not play the Cincinnati Open, which begins on August 11.
A statement from the tournament said: "Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open. Wishing all the best to our 2025 champion in his recovery process."
The decision means Alcaraz will drop 1,000 ranking points from winning Cincinnati last year.
The withdrawal also casts doubt on whether he will play the US Open, which starts on August 23.
If he does feature then Alcaraz will be out to defend his title - and 2,000 ranking points - after he beat Sinner at Flushing Meadows in 2025.
He also has the Laver Cup scheduled in late September and the Six Kings Slam booked into his schedule.
Alcaraz has now returned to outdoor training having spent most of his recovery using indoor courts.
Watching footage of Alcaraz training, former world No. 1 Andy Roddick said it was "encouraging" to see his progress.
"We’re hearing a lot of stuff about the [US] Open and the wrist. This is great to see," said Roddick on the Served With Andy Roddick podcast.
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”We all want Carlos back. Tennis is better when Carlos is in it. That is encouraging.
”I have got to be honest, post-Wimbledon when he released those videos when there was no strings in racquets and he was swinging through parking cones, that was concerning.
”I understand let’s take our time and let’s have caution and there have been too many cautionary tales with wrists, like [Juan Martin] Del Potro and [Dominic] Thiem. You don’t want to go down that route.
”So to see that [with Alcaraz] I feel relief and happiness. Let’s get him back in the mix here and rip it up, that is fantastic to see!”
The return to training seems to bode well for Alcaraz, who may also decide to play at the Shanghai Masters, the Paris Masters and ATP Finals before the end of the year.
The continuation of his rivalry with Sinner will be highly anticipated, both by spectators and the two players.
Sinner admitted in April that tennis is "better" with Alcaraz playing.
"I think what’s most important is to say that, first of all, tennis needs Carlos," he said. "Tennis is a much better sport when he’s around.
"For me personally, it’s nice when he’s around. It makes me also look in the draw and see the matches in a different way, even though if I would face Carlos it would always be in the final.
"I do believe he’s going to come back stronger than before. But injuries are always tough, especially a wrist. There are certain areas of our body that are very sensitive.
"The wrist, we saw with also other players in the past, that they can complicate our life. So I hope he’s going to come back and he will not have any further injuries."
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