Carlos Alcaraz Opens Up About Injury Struggles Ahead of US Open

Carlos Alcaraz, the seven-time major champion, has revealed that uncertainty surrounding his wrist injury led to significant mental challenges during his lengthy absence from the court. The 23-year-old Spaniard has not competed in singles since April 13, when he played at the Barcelona Open.

As he gears up to defend his title at the US Open, set to commence in New York, Alcaraz expressed that the most difficult aspect of his recovery was dealing with intrusive thoughts about his return. He noted, "Once I started to practice a little bit but didn’t know when I’m going to return, those thoughts were really difficult to deal with."

Alcaraz, who triumphed over rival Jannik Sinner in last year's US Open final, is scheduled to face Russian player Roman Safiullin in his opening match. The match will serve as a crucial test of his fitness following an extended period away from competitive play due to what is believed to be tenosynovitis, an inflammation affecting the wrist's tendon sheath.

Despite the challenges, Alcaraz stated he feels mentally prepared for the demands of five-set matches, although he acknowledges that this may not be the ideal time for his comeback. He emphasized the importance of trusting his team and maintaining a positive mindset as he returns to the court, wearing a compression sleeve on his arm to protect his wrist.

With the US Open approaching, Alcaraz is eager to put his training into practice and is focused on competing at his best, stating, "I just have to go 100%, and right now I think with the practices I have done so far, it’s been all good."