Carlos Alcaraz’s chance to play in the US Open is uncertain as the current champion faces a serious health warning.
Carlos Alcaraz’s chance to defend his US Open title is looking uncertain after he received a serious health warning, adding to a tough year for him in 2026.
He started the year strong by winning his first Australian Open, becoming the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam. He also won the Qatar Open, was runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters, and made the semifinals at Indian Wells.
But then in April, he hurt his wrist, which has made 2026 frustrating for the 23-year-old. Because of this, he missed the chance to compete at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Alcaraz is still listed to play at the US Open, which kicks off at the end of the month, but after pulling out of the Cincinnati Masters, it’s unclear if he will actually take part.
Stephen Smith, a top expert in injury prevention and athlete care, doubts Alcaraz will play. He told Tennis365 that the US Open is a tough test with extreme heat, a hard court surface, and long best-of-five matches. For someone coming back from injury, it’s risky. Smith said it would be surprising to see Alcaraz play because it’s better to build up slowly than jump into such a tough challenge.
While Smith thinks Alcaraz will stay patient to be ready for the 2027 season, an Italian medical expert has a different take on why the 23-year-old might miss the US Open.
Gianni Daniele, head of the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission for the Italian Tennis Federation, told La Repubblica that Alcaraz might be dealing with ‘mental weakness.’ Daniele said we still don’t know the full details of his wrist injury, but there are rumors that Alcaraz is struggling mentally, feeling like he can’t bring back his old energy. This may have led to a kind of depression, making it hard for him to regain confidence. Daniele added it’s sad for a world No. 1 not to be showing his great talent on court.
So far, neither Alcaraz nor his team has replied to Daniele’s comments.