Carlos Alcaraz’s return to competitive play has been delayed.
Alcaraz, a seven-time major champion, was due to compete in the Cincinnati Open next week.
The Spaniard ultimately decided to withdraw from the Masters event to aid the recovery of his troublesome wrist injury.
This withdrawal has cast doubt on Alcaraz’s US Open status.
When do you think Carlos Alcaraz will return to tennis?
Alcaraz has not played since April…
Will the Spaniard decide to make his return to the Tour in New York?
Andy Roddick has offered his take on the matter.
Andy Roddick ‘doubts’ Carlos Alcaraz will play the US Open
“Carlos pulling out of Cincinnati. I just think, and no one’s going to want to hear this, I think it’s really hard to come back and have your first tournament be three out of five sets,” Roddick, the former world number one, said on the Served Podcast.
“I think the US Open is in doubt,” he continued. “And I’m not a doctor. This isn’t one of those ones where I come on and say I have some information.
“It’s just when you’re taking your time, and you’ve been so diligent about being safe and not being irresponsible, that risk comes back.
“All of a sudden, he’s in a five-setter, first round of the US Open. That would be counter to everything that he has done thus far with taking his time and being patient with this injury.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s year so far
- Won the Australian Open, beating Novak Djokovic in the final
- Won the Qatar Open, beating Arthur Fils in the final
- Reached the semi-finals of Indian Wells before losing to Daniil Medvedev
- Stunned in the Miami Open third round by Sebastian Korda.
- Beaten in the Monte Carlo Masters final by Jannik Sinner, surrendering the world number one spot to the Italian
- Withdrew from the Barcelona Open ahead of his second match after suffering a wrist injury
“Just more reps, like if you don’t know where your wrist is at, or let’s say you think it’s 100 per cent, but the first time you play an extended format – that’s four hours – it’s going to feel some kind of way,” Roddick added.
“Anytime you play that first game, you go in, and your team sits down and goes, how did it feel? How is it different? How are we going to go about this?
“Having those conversations after playing an hour and 20 minutes in Cincinnati versus potentially having to play seven five-setters in 14 or 15 days, I think it’s different.
“Now, if anyone can do it and just jump in midstream, it is Carlos.
“But it would just be counter to the way that they’ve gone about this injury, at least outside looking in thus far.
“Coming back from an injury, I think the last thing you want is for the first real, live-action stress test to be at a point where it potentially could put you at risk,” Roddick later added.
“I think they’ve taken that option off the table, at least in the last four or five, six months.
“At this point, I think I’d be surprised if he just rocked up and played the US Open. Again, I have no information.
The last 10 US Open Men’s Singles champions
- 2025 – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024 – Jannik Sinner
- 2023 – Novak Djokovic
- 2022 – Carlos Alcaraz
- 2021 – Daniil Medvedev
- 2020 – Dominic Thiem
- 2019 – Rafael Nadal
- 2018 – Novak Djokovic
- 2017 – Rafael Nadal
- 2016 – Stan Wawrinka
Or maybe it’s just, ‘I’m close, but let’s be extra cautious, and I will be ready to go at the US Open.’ That’s certainly an option also.
“I would love nothing more than to be dead wrong on this thing. It’s just outside looking in, in a perfect scenario, you want to go kick some rust off and kind of see where you’re at.
“We’re getting little snippets of videos where, it’s like hearsay here and there. Do we know if he’s played three sets? Do we know if he’s playing sets? That wrist the first time someone serves 140 into it, does it hold up when you accept that pace? These are all things we don’t know.
“Instagram’s awesome. Highlight videos are great. Doing Fed ball drills or two-on-ones is different than knocking down a Zverev serve when he’s hitting at 142 [mph]. So a lot of question marks, unfortunately.”
Do you believe Carlos Alcaraz is already the greatest tennis player of all time?
Alcaraz is not the only high-profile name suffering with physical issues ahead of the US Open.
Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Cincinnati Open on Sunday after suffering a knee injury, stating that he was ‘not ready’ to compete.
What did Carlos Alcaraz say after winning the 2025 US Open?
Alcaraz collected his second US Open title in four years after beating Jannik Sinner in the 2025 US Open final.
The Spaniard, who won his first-ever major title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, triumphed 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Alcaraz returned to the world number one spot with victory, ending Sinner’s 65-week tenure.
“Every achievement that I have is because of you,” Alcaraz told his team after lifting the US Open trophy, as reported by the tournament website.
“This tournament is super special for me.
“It’s a privilege to be a part of this tournament. I just feel at home, feel the energy and feel the love, and I’m just trying to play my best for you guys.
“You made everything easy.”
Sinner, as always, was gracious in defeat.
“I know it’s a lot of hard work behind this performance today,” Sinner told Alcaraz during the post-match formalities.
“You were better than me. Congrats. Enjoy it. It’s a great moment.”
