Alcaraz Will Be In New York: "Here We Go" After 138 Days Out

Carlos Alcaraz announced on Thursday 20 August that he will play the US Open, and he did it by borrowing Fabrizio Romano's formula: "Here we go", inside a video shot with the journalist. The announcement came at the end of a day in which several Spanish and Italian outlets were treating a withdrawal as likely for a player who has not played an official match since 14 April.

That last one was in Barcelona against Otto Virtanen, won 6-4, 6-2 but with the physio called on court for his right wrist in the middle of it. The next day Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament, and in the press conference he admitted the problem was more serious than expected. The diagnosis is tenosynovitis of the right wrist involving the triangular fibrocartilage, the TFCC, treated conservatively with rest, immobilisation, anti-inflammatories and physiotherapy.

Half a season went with it: Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen's, Wimbledon, Montreal and Cincinnati. Over the months out he has lost almost 5,000 points and slipped to No. 2 in the rankings, behind Jannik Sinner. In New York he defends the title he won in 2025 against the Italian himself, beaten in the final 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

The main draw starts on Sunday 30 August. Alcaraz arrives without a single warm-up match after four months, with weeks of intensified training in Murcia and, in some sessions, a brace on the wrist. Coming back straight into a Slam as defending champion is a bet few players take, and the right wrist remains the variable no training test can fully close.