Carlos Alcaraz has announced that he feels "great" as he gears up to defend his US Open crown, marking his first appearance on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows since a right‑wrist injury forced him out of competition in April. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, already a seven‑time Grand Slam champion, has built a reputation for elevating his game on the sport’s biggest stages, and despite the uncertainty surrounding his recovery, he remains a formidable contender. Alcaraz’s comeback will begin with a mixed‑doubles warm‑up alongside Serena Williams, after which he will launch his singles title defense against Russia’s Roman Safiullin. In a candid interview, the young star explained how the injury period has reshaped his mental approach: "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. 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." The wrist problem sparked speculation that Alcariz might need to alter his technique to avoid a recurrence.
A recent example is Britain’s Jack Draper, who tried to modify his serve to protect his own shoulder but still remains sidelined. Alcaraz, however, 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 said. "I just wanted to feel that I was going to be myself." He acknowledged the timing of his return is far from ideal, given the US Open’s demanding best‑of‑five‑set format and the length of his layoff, but he and his team are confident in his readiness. "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," Alcaraz explained. The Spanish star also commented on the odd situation of not having seen fellow world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who is also nursing 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," Alcaraz said, expressing genuine concern for his rival. During his time away from competitive play, Alcaraz was not completely out of the public eye.
He had the honor of carrying the 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 had provided the trunks that carried it, and that the ceremony felt like a personal milestone.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz’s schedule includes the US Open matches broadcast live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London later in September, which will also be shown on Sky Sports. Beyond the immediate tournament, Alcaraz’s return raises broader questions about how elite athletes manage injury setbacks while maintaining peak performance.
His emphasis on mental resilience—trusting his support staff, staying focused on his own game, and refusing to over‑engineer technical changes—offers a blueprint for others facing similar challenges. The balance between physical rehabilitation and psychological readiness is a delicate one, and Alcaraz appears to have found a rhythm that allows him to compete without lingering fear. The US Open will test that balance.
The hard courts of New York demand both physical endurance and strategic adaptability, especially in five‑set matches where momentum can shift dramatically. Alcaraz’s first-round opponent, Roman Safiullin, is a solid baseliner with a powerful serve, presenting a stern early test.
Yet Alcaraz’s confidence, bolstered by his recent mixed‑doubles session with a legend like Serena Williams, suggests he is eager to prove that his wrist has healed sufficiently to withstand the rigors of Grand Slam tennis. In summary, Carlos Alcaraz is stepping back onto the court with a clear message: he needs competition, not sympathy. By maintaining his usual playing style, trusting his team, and embracing the mental challenges posed by his injury, he aims to defend his US Open title and continue his ascent in the sport.
The tennis world will be watching closely to see whether his comeback narrative lives up to the high expectations set by his previous triumphs.