Carlos Alcaraz is heading back to New York with a title to defend and plenty of questions around his fitness. The Spanish star has confirmed his return to the US Open after a four-month absence caused by a right wrist injury. Alcaraz last competed in Barcelona on April 14, when he defeated Otto Virtanen before withdrawing from the tournament. He has since missed the French Open, Wimbledon and the North American hard-court swing.
The timing makes this comeback particularly significant. Alcaraz arrives as the defending US Open champion after his four-set victory over Jannik Sinner in last year’s final. That win gave him his second title at Flushing Meadows and helped restore him to No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Sinner later reclaimed the top position in Monte Carlo. The Italian has since withdrawn from this year’s US Open because of a knee injury, which leaves Alcaraz as a major name in a men’s field that has lost its top-ranked player.
Before the injury interrupted his season, Alcaraz had been putting together an extraordinary run. He opened 2026 with a 22-3 record across his first four months, captured the Australian Open and won the title in Doha. His Australian Open triumph also completed his career Grand Slam at just 22 years old. He became the youngest man to win all four major singles titles. The US Open will be his seventh tournament of the season.
There is another reason for fans to watch his return. Alcaraz has also entered the revamped US Open mixed doubles event with Serena Williams, which gives him a rare chance to share the court with the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion.