Carlos Alcaraz is stepping back onto the courts of the US Open with a clear message: he wants competition. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, who has been sidelined since sustaining a right‑wrist injury in April, says he feels "great" as he prepares to defend his championship. Though his absence has left many questions about his form, Alcará z's reputation for delivering his finest tennis on the sport's biggest stages suggests that he remains a formidable contender, regardless of the uncertainty surrounding his comeback.
Alcaraz's first match in the tournament will be against Russia's Roman Safiullin, following a brief warm‑up appearance in mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams. The Spaniard explained his mental approach, noting that the injury forced him to confront his inner dialogue. "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 playing style to protect his wrist, a scenario not unfamiliar to other players dealing with similar setbacks. For instance, Britain's Jack Draper attempted to modify his serve to mitigate his own injury problems, but he has remained on the sidelines. Alcaraz, however, insists that he has not made any technical changes. "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 affirmed. "I just wanted to feel that I was going to be myself." The US Open is a grueling best‑of‑five‑sets tournament, and for Alcaraz it represents his first major competition after a lengthy lay‑off.
He acknowledges that the timing of his preparation was far from ideal, yet he and his team are confident that he is ready. "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 explained.
"We saw that everything was fine, that everything was responding properly, and we believed it was the right time to come back." Alcaraz also took a moment to comment on the situation of fellow world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who has been out with an 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," he said, expressing genuine concern for his rival. While his focus has been on recovery, Alcaraz was not completely removed from the public eye. He had the honor of carrying the World Cup trophy onto the pitch at MetLife Stadium during Spain's victorious match against Argentina. "For me it was a lifetime experience, seeing Spain winning the World Cup," he recalled.
He described the moment of handing the trophy to the team, noting that Louis Vuitton provided the trunks that held the cup and that the ceremony was a personal highlight of his career. Beyond the immediate match schedule, Alcaraz's return carries broader implications for the sport. His ability to bounce back from injury and compete at the highest level serves as an inspiring narrative for younger players and underscores the importance of mental resilience in tennis.
The US Open, broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, offers fans the chance to witness whether Alcaraz can translate his pre‑injury dominance into another Grand Slam triumph. The tournament also features a range of ancillary events, including the Laver Cup, which will be held at The O2 in London from September 25‑27 and streamed on Sky Sports. Viewers can watch the US Open without a contract via NOW and the Sky Sports app, ensuring easy access to the action. In summary, Carlos Alcaraz returns to Flushing Meadows eager for high‑quality competition, confident in his physical readiness, and determined to defend his title without compromising his style of play.
His journey from injury to the grand stage highlights both the physical and psychological challenges elite athletes face, and his performance will be closely watched by fans and commentators alike as he seeks to add another Grand Slam trophy to his burgeoning collection.