Carlos Alcaraz, U.S. Open Once Again in Jeopardy: How Is Sinner’s Rival Doing?

There is still some uncertainty surrounding Carlos Alcaraz’s condition on the eve of the U.S. Open. Will the Spanish star be ready to compete, or are his long layoff and wrist issues still affecting his preparation? At the moment, there are no official announcements suggesting he might withdraw, but some signs emerging from New York in recent days call for caution. Alcaraz is returning to the court after about four months away due to a wrist injury, and following Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, he is one of the most eagerly anticipated stars of the U.S. Open. Precisely for this reason, every detail regarding his condition is being closely scrutinized.

Some questions arose on Wednesday when Alcaraz did not train after his mixed doubles exhibition match with Serena Williams. Yesterday, however, the Spaniard returned to the court for a closed-door session that consisted of light training without any particularly high-intensity drills. This situation can also be explained by the bad weather that hit New York and the need to carefully manage his return after such a long period away from competition. No cause for alarm, then, but not enough information to get a completely clear picture either.

Adding to the doubts is the fact that Alcaraz’s name is missing from today’s official outdoor practice schedule. This doesn’t necessarily mean the Murcia native won’t be training: he could, in fact, opt once again for an indoor session, both to avoid the bad weather and to prepare away from prying eyes. This is a rather unusual choice for Alcaraz, who is accustomed to training outdoors and often in front of an audience, with numerous fans ready to follow his every move. Even in this case, however, it’s impossible to draw definitive conclusions.

The first real test will come directly on the court. Alcaraz has been drawn against Russian Roman Safiullin, an opponent who is far from easy—especially for a player returning to official competition after a four-month hiatus. The Spaniard will therefore have to prove that he has regained his rhythm, physical conditioning, and, above all, the necessary confidence in his serve. It’s an important test, even if it won’t be easy to gauge his true level of fitness from the very first match.