The 23-year-old Spanish star, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, confirmed his participation in the final major of the season, which runs from August 30 to September 13, 2026, in New York.
The Path Back to Flushing Meadows
Alcaraz has been out of action since April 14, 2026, when he sustained a tendon injury in his right wrist featuring inflammation and cartilaginous affectation during a first-round match against Otto Virtanen at the Barcelona Open, according to El Mundo. The injury forced the Murcia native to withdraw from the entire clay-court swing, including the Mutua Madrid Open and Rome Masters, as well as the French Open at Roland Garros.
Rehabilitation proved slow and deliberate. Alcaraz chose not to rush his recovery, missing Wimbledon—where Italy’s Jannik Sinner claimed the title—and subsequent hard-court tune-ups in Montreal and Cincinnati. During his absence, Alcaraz slipped to second in the ATP rankings, relinquishing the number-one spot while accumulating 6,130 points in ranking drops over the inactive months, as detailed by El Mundo. To test his physical readiness, Alcaraz trained alongside fellow player Holger Rune at the Club de Campo del Palmar.
Social Media Confirmation and Tournament Stakes
Alcaraz broke his silence regarding his return through an official post on X, formerly Twitter, writing “HERE WE GO!” alongside an American flag emoji. He followed that announcement with an Instagram video created in collaboration with football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, utilizing Romano’s signature catchphrase to signal his comeback to the tour, according to El Mundo reports.
HERE WE GO! 👋🏻🇺🇸
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) August 20, 2026
As the reigning US Open champion, Alcaraz enters the tournament draw from the very first round. His history in New York includes capturing the US Open titles in 2022 and 2025. Over the course of his recovery, the Spaniard utilized various protective measures, including a compression mesh sleeve designed to offer stability when striking balls.
Next Steps Ahead of New York
Alcaraz is scheduled to travel to New York at the beginning of the week preceding the tournament to test his wrist against top-tier competition. Meanwhile, questions remain surrounding the physical status of world number one Jannik Sinner, whose participation in the 2026 US Open has faced doubts due to a knee injury.
