Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing wrist injury, organizers announced Tuesday. The decision casts significant doubt on the Spaniard's fitness as he aims to defend his U.S. Open title later this month.
Alcaraz has been sidelined since retiring from the second round of the Barcelona Open in April. He had been scheduled to return at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, which he won in the previous year. His absence also forced him to miss Wimbledon, though he had recently posted training videos suggesting a return was imminent.
"We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible," Cincinnati tournament director Bob Moran stated.
The Winston-Salem Open, scheduled to begin on August 23, represents the last potential opportunity for Alcaraz to compete before the U.S. Open. It is not yet known if he will participate in the ATP 250 event.
Last year, Alcaraz claimed the Cincinnati title when world number one Jannik Sinner retired during the final. This victory served as a springboard to his second U.S. Open championship at Flushing Meadows, following his initial win in 2022.
Alcaraz began his current season by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to achieve a career Grand Slam. In his absence from other tournaments, Sinner has successfully defended his Wimbledon title, bringing his major championship count to five.
The U.S. Open is slated to commence on August 30.