Carlos Alcaraz has announced that he feels "great" as he gears up to defend his US Open crown, marking his first tournament back after a right‑wrist injury that forced him out of competition in April. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, a seven‑time Grand Slam winner, has long been known for delivering his best tennis on the sport’s biggest stages, and despite the uncertainty surrounding his comeback, he remains a formidable contender. Alcaraz will open his title‑defence campaign against Russia’s Roman Safiullin, following a brief mixed‑doubles warm‑up with Serena Williams. Speaking to the media, the young champion emphasized the mental side of his recovery.
"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," he said. "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 early concerns that Alcaraz might need to alter 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 he has made no technical adjustments.
"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 explained.
"I just wanted to feel that I was going to be myself." The Spaniard acknowledges that stepping into a best‑of‑five‑set Grand Slam, especially one as demanding as the US Open, after a long lay‑off is a massive challenge. "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," he said.
Alcariz and his support staff monitored his progress closely, looking for any signs of lingering pain or reduced performance. "We saw that everything was fine, that everything was responding properly, and we believed it was the right time to come back," he added. The confidence in his physical condition is matched by a desire for high‑quality match play.
"I need competition," Alcaraz declared, underscoring his belief that only the pressure of top‑level opponents can truly test his fitness and form. He also touched on the broader context of the men’s tour, noting the oddity 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, offering a candid glimpse of the camaraderie that exists among the sport’s elite. During his time away from the court, Alcaraz was not completely out of the public eye. He had the honor of carrying the FIFA World Cup trophy onto the pitch at MetLife Stadium as Spain celebrated a dramatic victory over Argentina.
"For me it was a lifetime experience, seeing Spain winning the World Cup," he recalled. He described the moment of holding the trophy, noting that Louis Vuitton supplied the ceremonial trunks. "It was a great experience," he added, highlighting how the triumph added a memorable chapter to his already impressive career.
The US Open coverage will begin on August 30 on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app for viewers who prefer contract‑free access. In addition to the main draw, fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup, which will be staged at The O2 in London from September 25‑27 and broadcast live on Sky Sports. As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on Alcaraz to see whether his recovery has restored him to the dominant form that has defined his rise to the top of the game.
His statements suggest a blend of confidence, mental resilience, and a hunger for competition that could make his title defence one of the most compelling narratives of the summer. Whether he can translate his physical readiness into on‑court success against a field eager to test the newly healed Spaniard remains the story that will unfold over the next two weeks of intense, high‑stakes tennis.