Carlos Alcaraz is back on a tournament entry list. The world number three, sidelined since April, plans to return at the Cincinnati Open next month as he looks to put a lingering wrist injury behind him.
His season derailed at the Barcelona Open, where the injury struck and forced an abrupt halt. The consequences were immediate. Alcaraz withdrew from both the French Open and Wimbledon, missing the two biggest events of the summer. Skipping Roland Garros meant surrendering his champion’s status without a title defense. Wimbledon slipped away too, denying him another shot at Grand Slam glory.
Recovery became the priority. Alcaraz and his team targeted the right moment for a comeback. The Canadian Open, a Masters 1,000 event and traditional US Open tune-up, runs in Montreal from 2-13 August, but Alcaraz will not be there. He’s chosen to wait, according to the entry list, giving himself more time before stepping back into competition.
Cincinnati now takes center stage. The Masters event, set for 13-23 August, is where Alcaraz intends to make his return. He’ll be defending the title he claimed last year in a final that ended abruptly when Jannik Sinner retired due to illness. Both men are slated to compete again, but the landscape has changed. Sinner arrives as the player to beat, having swept every Masters 1,000 title so far in 2026 and just secured a second consecutive Wimbledon crown.
For Alcaraz. Cincinnati is more than a return to the tour. It’s the crucial test before the US Open, which begins 30 August. The 23-year-old holds the defending champion’s mantle in New York and will be looking to prove he’s ready to defend his Grand Slam title.
The Cincinnati entry list features other big stories. Emma Raducanu, also 23 and a recent British number one, won’t play. She withdrew from Wimbledon with a stress fracture in her lower leg and is racing to recover in time for the US Open. Jack Draper, another Brit, faces an uphill battle to make the main draw and will need a wildcard. Meanwhile. Arthur Fery’s surprise run to the Wimbledon semi-finals has propelled him to a career-high world ranking of 36, earning him a direct place in Cincinnati.
Anticipation is building for the men’s draw. Alcaraz’s return will be closely watched for any signs of lingering injury or rust as the US Open approaches. The event also sets up a direct showdown with Sinner, whose dominance on the Masters circuit has raised the stakes for everyone else.
Cincinnati marks the start of the final push toward the US Open. Alcaraz, the defending champion, is set to take the court from 13 August, looking to prove his recovery and readiness for the battles ahead.
