Alcaraz out 114 days; US Open defense in doubt
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- Carlos Alcaraz has been sidelined 114 days with tenosynovitis, withdrew from the Cincinnati Open, and faces serious doubt over defending his US Open title in less than a month
- The wrist injury, sustained in April, forced Alcaraz to miss the French Open and Wimbledon and kept him off a racquet for part of his absence
- Former world No. 35 CiCi Bellis, who retired at 22 over recurring wrist injuries, said the wrist is 'one of the places you fear hurting the most' and warned of lasting distrust after returning
- Grand Slam winners Dominic Thiem and Juan Martin del Potro both suffered recurring wrist injuries throughout their careers, showing how such issues become chronic
- Physiotherapist James Ross attributed rising wrist strain across the tour to better racquets and strings, harder-hitting baseline play, grueling schedules, and inconsistent tournament balls
- Andy Murray, who injured both wrists in his early 20s, said the initial pain is 'mentally very difficult to let go of' when returning to competition
- Alcaraz had been averaging two Grand Slams per year before the injury — a pace that would have him level with Novak Djokovic's 24 majors by 2034, when he would be 31
Why it matters: The wrist powers Alcaraz's signature forehand, drop shots, and heavy topspin, making recovery central to his ceiling. With Thiem and del Potro's chronic wrist injuries as direct precedents and a US Open title to defend in less than a month, his return timing balances ranking points and prize money against the long-term health of a career tracking 24 majors.
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