Carlos Alcaraz's return to the tennis court remains uncertain as a lingering wrist injury has kept him sidelined since April, raising concerns among fans and former players alike. The Spanish sensation was forced to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open, a key warm-up tournament for the US Open, due to continued worries about the injury.
Alcaraz was diagnosed with tenosynovitis, an inflammation of the sheath surrounding his wrist tendons. This injury has caused him to miss significant portions of the season, including the French Open and Wimbledon, as well as several other ATP tournaments. His absence has left many eager to see him compete, especially as the defending champion of the upcoming US Open.
Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski has voiced his unease with the situation, suggesting that the prolonged recovery indicates a more serious issue than initially let on. "If it was just a little bit of inflammation, a little problem, he would have been back by now," Rusedski stated on his podcast, Off Court with Greg Rusedski. "The only people who know are Carlos Alcaraz and the rest of his team. But this is taking a lot longer than we thought…We’re just being kept in the dark here. We have no idea what’s going on."
However, Tennis365's Kevin Palmer offered a different perspective, defending Alcaraz's team's decision to maintain silence on his recovery progress. Palmer drew a parallel to Rafael Nadal's performance at the 2022 French Open, where he played through significant foot issues with numbed nerves.
Rusedski countered this comparison, emphasizing the unique circumstances of Nadal's situation and warning against other players attempting to emulate it. "There will only ever be one Rafa," Rusedski remarked. "A lot of players watch that documentary and think, ‘Oh, I can play through pain.’ Most people can’t, let's be frank. And if they try to, they make it worse. Their careers could possibly end."
Alcaraz is currently slated to make his return at the US Open, which is scheduled to begin on August 30. He is the reigning champion of the final Grand Slam event of the year.