Carlos Alcaraz has announced that he feels "great" as he gears up to defend his US Open crown, marking his first appearance on the New York hard courts since a right‑wrist injury forced him out in April. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, a seven‑time Grand Slam champion, has built a reputation for delivering his most compelling tennis on the sport's biggest stages, and despite the uncertainty surrounding his recovery, he remains a formidable contender. Alcaraz will open his title defense against Russia's Roman Safiullin, following a brief warm‑up in the mixed‑doubles draw alongside Serena Williams.

"I'm feeling very good, and I think that injury helped me a lot to understand that right now, everything is in my head. I have to trust my team, trust the people who tell me that everything is going to be fine," the young champion explained.

"So I just have to go 100 per cent. Right now, with the training I've done so far, everything has gone well.

I'm trying to get away from that fear and play normally." There were concerns that Alcariz might need to adjust his technique to protect his wrist, a dilemma that has also plagued Britain's Jack Draper, who has been forced to modify his serve in an attempt to manage his own injury woes. However, Alcaraz insists that he has not altered his game plan. "I haven't changed anything.

I've been doing the same things. I haven't changed anything technically, in terms of my movements or the way I'm going to play," he said. "I just wanted to feel that I was going to be myself." The US Open, a best‑of‑five‑set tournament, will be Alcaraz's first major event after a prolonged layoff, and he acknowledges the difficulty of jumping straight into such a demanding competition. "I knew that coming here to the US Open, being a best‑of‑five‑set tournament and being my first tournament after such a long time, was going to be a huge challenge.

Probably, in terms of preparation, it wasn't the ideal time. But my team and I believe that I'm ready. It wasn't an easy decision.

I did everything I needed to do to be ready. I tried to do everything perfectly, both on and off the court, to feel prepared. We saw that everything was fine, that everything was responding properly, and we believed it was the right time to come back," he added.

Alcaraz also commented on the odd situation of not having seen fellow world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who has been sidelined with his own injury, for several months. "It's a weird situation, to be honest.

I just wish him all the best... a great recovery and to see him back in court at his best," Alcaraz said, expressing genuine concern for his rival.

While his time away from competition was largely spent in rehabilitation, Alcaraz did have a memorable moment outside the tennis arena. He was invited to carry the FIFA World Cup trophy onto the pitch at MetLife Stadium during Spain's victory over Argentina. "For me it was a lifetime experience, seeing Spain winning the World Cup," he recalled. "Louis Vuitton had the trunks that were carrying the trophy, so they told me that I'm down to do it.

It was a great experience, holding the trophy in the ceremony and handing it to the team on the field." Looking ahead, Alcaraz's focus remains on delivering high‑quality tennis and testing his limits against the best in the world. He emphasizes that his primary need is competitive match play, not any radical changes to his technique.

"I just need competition," he summed up, underscoring his confidence that the preparation and support of his team have positioned him to compete at the highest level once again. The US Open coverage will be live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also broadcast by Sky Sports.

Alcaraz's return adds an extra layer of intrigue to a tournament already brimming with storylines, and all eyes will be on the Spanish prodigy as he seeks to prove that his wrist injury has not diminished his championship pedigree.