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 champion, has built a reputation for delivering his finest tennis on the sport's biggest stages, and despite the uncertainty surrounding his comeback, his presence cannot be dismissed.

Alcaraz will open his title defence against Russia's Roman Safiullin, following a brief warm‑up appearance in the mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams. Speaking about his recovery, Alcaraz said, "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 raised concerns that Alcaraz might need to alter his technique to avoid a relapse.

A comparable case is Britain's Jack Draper, who attempted to modify his serve to manage lingering injury issues but remains sidelined. Alcaraz, however, insists that no technical adjustments have been made.

"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. 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." He acknowledged that the timing of his preparation was far from ideal, yet both he and his support staff are convinced 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.

We saw that everything was fine, that everything was responding properly, and we believed it was the right time to come back," Alcaraz said. Alcaraz also commented on the unusual situation of not having seen fellow world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who is also recovering from 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 added. While away from the tennis circuit, Alcariz remained in the public eye. He had the honor of carrying the FIFA World Cup trophy onto the pitch at MetLife Stadium as Spain celebrated a 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 lifetime experience for me, like holding the trophy in the ceremony, to give it to them on the field. So it was a great experience." The US Open will be broadcast live on Sky Sports beginning August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app, allowing fans to watch without a contract. In addition to the Grand Slam, tennis enthusiasts can look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.

Alcaraz's return adds a compelling narrative to this year's US Open. His desire for competition, confidence in his unchanged game plan, and determination to overcome the mental hurdles associated with injury make his campaign one to watch. Whether he can replicate the high‑level performances that have defined his career on the sport's biggest stages remains to be seen, but his statements suggest he is mentally prepared and physically capable of taking on the challenge. Fans and pundits alike will be keen to see if the Spaniard can translate his optimism and preparation into another Grand Slam triumph, or at the very least, a strong showing that signals his full return to the elite tier of men's tennis.