Defending champion Alcaraz withdraws from Cincinnati Open

World number two tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the ATP Cincinnati Masters due to a persistent wrist injury, according to tournament organizers. The 23-year-old Spaniard had been set to make his comeback at the event, which serves as a key warm-up for the US Open - the season's final Grand Slam tournament. Alcaraz, who is the defending champion at New York, was scheduled to compete in Cincinnati, a seven-time Grand Slam titleholder.

Tournament director Bob Moran expressed support for Alcaraz's recovery efforts, hoping the player would soon return to competitive play. Alcaraz had been sidelined since April after being eliminated in the first round of the Barcelona Open due to his wrist injury. Prior to the Cincinnati Masters, the young athlete had withdrawn from matches in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros, where he faced his former two-time champion Jannik Sinner and eventual winner Alexander Zverev of Germany.