Alcaraz Returns to New York for US Open Title Defense
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The No. 2 seed returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium after a wrist injury sidelined him from singles competition since April.
Carlos Alcaraz enters the 146th US Open as the No. 2 seed, seeking to defend the title he won last year in New York, as Sportsnet first reported. The 23-year-old Spaniard has not played a singles match since April due to a wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona Open.
Alcaraz, who has collected seven Grand Slam trophies and became the youngest career Grand Slam champion after winning the Australian Open in January, missed several opportunities for silverware during his recovery. Sportsnet reports that while Alcaraz was sidelined, Alexander Zverev won in Paris and Jannik Sinner secured his second consecutive Wimbledon title.
Ahead of the tournament, Alcaraz's only competitive action was a mixed doubles appearance earlier this week with Serena Williams. Sportsnet noted that Alcaraz appeared energetic and showed no signs of wrist discomfort during the match, though the pair lost in the second round.
As the tournament begins, Alcaraz faces a field where rival Jannik Sinner is currently injured. However, Sportsnet emphasizes that durability is critical for success at the US Open, where men compete in best-of-five set matches, making Alcaraz's physical readiness a primary factor in his bid to retain the trophy.