Carlos Alcaraz set to return from injury to defend title at U.S. Open

Madrid – Young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has announced his triumphant return to competitive action on the international stage. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is set to make his highly anticipated comeback at the U.S. Open, where he will be looking to defend his title after an absence of four months due to a wrist injury.

In a social media video, Alcaraz declared, "I'm back," expressing his excitement and readiness to resume his professional career. Prior to this setback, Alcaraz had not competed since pulling out of the Barcelona Open in mid-April due to a right wrist injury, which also forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. Despite these challenges, Alcaraz made history in January by becoming the youngest man to claim the career Grand Slam, achieving this milestone at the Australian Open at the tender age of 22.

He further solidified his dominance by capturing the ATP hard court title in Doha in February. However, his season took a dramatic turn after a withdrawal from the Madrid and Rome tournaments, followed by a decision to skip the French Open. The Spaniard's absence from the tournament was reported to be due to tenosynovitis, a condition characterized by fluid buildup in a tendon sheath.

Alcaraz's absence from the court left a void for his rival Jannik Sinner, who emerged victorious in the 2022 Wimbledon final, defeating the French Open champion Alexander Zverev. Following this triumph, Sinner expressed his anticipation of renewing his rivalry with Alcaraz, stating, "We hope that Carlos is coming back... because tennis needs him."

Zverev seized the opportunity to climb to No. 2 in the world rankings ahead of Alcaraz, but the Spaniard quickly reclaimed the top spot after Wimbledon, setting the stage for an intense battle at the U.S. Open. Initially scheduled to participate in the Cincinnati hard court tournament, Alcaraz's withdrawal from the event raised concerns about his readiness to defend his U.S. Open title.

However, recent photos of Alcaraz engaging in practice sets with ATP rival Holger Rune have provided a glimmer of hope, suggesting that he may be on track to make a successful return to the grand stage.