Carlos Alcaraz has to think about the bigger picture following his withdrawal from the Cincinnati Open.
Alcaraz had released encouraging footage of him training ahead of his return to competition in Cincinnati, having been out of action for nearly four months due to a right wrist injury.
However, this return has now been on hold after Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open and was subsequently replaced.
Alcaraz’s next goal will be to prepare for the US Open, but he should perhaps rethink this decision.
Carlos Alcaraz needs to withdraw from the US Open
Alcaraz has already missed two Grand Slams this year, in Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and will be desperate to make his return to a major tournament at the US Open.
However, this does not seem a wise decision for Alcaraz to play his first tournament since April in a best-of-five set format.
When do you think Carlos Alcaraz will return to tennis?
Alcaraz has not played since April…
Alcaraz will likely have some rust when he returns to the match court, and therefore could be more vulnerable to being pushed to the distance in these early matches.
This will only put his body under more pressure at the US Open, and the last thing that Alcaraz needs right now is another injury setback.
That is why, although it is not what many fans will want to hear, Alcaraz may be better off making the really difficult decision to withdraw from the US Open.
Alcaraz’s decision will only be made more difficult as he is the defending champion in New York, and will therefore be dropping 2,000 points if he misses his third Grand Slam in 2026.
Carlos Alcaraz should return to tennis for the start of the 2027 season
If Alcaraz does decide to skip the US Open, it may be wise for him to not play any more tournaments in 2026.
There will be big tournaments in Shanghai, Paris, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals, but ultimately what matters most to Alcaraz is winning Grand Slams.
If Alcaraz cannot play the US Open, it would make more sense for him to keep training his body to return at the start of the 2027 season in Australia.
Can Carlos Alcaraz win MORE Grand Slams than Novak Djokovic? 🤔
This way, Alcaraz will have no risk of rushing his comeback and he can return fresh for the Australian Open, where he won the title in January.
Alcaraz does not have long to make a decision on his upcoming tournaments, with the main draw of the US Open starting on Sunday, August 30 this year.
