Carlos Alcaraz announces return ahead of US Open

Carlos Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, announced his return to competitive tennis at the U.S. Open on Thursday. The news came after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury. Alcaraz confirmed he would participate in the tournament, which runs from August 30th to September 13th, with the aim of defending his title in New York.

Prior to his return, Alcaraz had withdrawn from the Barcelona Open in April and missed the French Open, Wimbledon, as well as the hard-court events in Toronto and Cincinnati. Initially, he aimed to make his comeback at the Cincinnati Open, where he had triumphed the previous year, but decided to give his wrist more time to heal.

As he gradually increased his workload and trained with Denmark's Holger Rune in Murcia, Alcaraz tested the injury under higher intensity conditions. The significance of the U.S. Open for Alcaraz cannot be understated, as it marks the location of his first Grand Slam title in 2022, earning him the distinction of being the youngest player to reach world number one in the ATP rankings.