US Open: Carlos Alcaraz’s performance in practice sparks debate

Carlos Alcaraz’s performance during a practice session on the New York courts ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open, which begins next week, is sparking debate on social media. During the session, the Murcia native lost a set 7-5 to his compatriot Daniel Merida, currently ranked No. 40 in the world.

The Spanish champion, who has been sidelined for more than four months due to a wrist injury, is still far from peak condition—as was evident on the court—but he is trying to settle in and regain his match rhythm. The training session with Merida was strongly requested by the seven-time Grand Slam champion: his compatriot is one of the best returners on the tour and was the perfect opponent to test the world No. 3.

Alcaraz will take the court on Tuesday and Wednesday in the mixed doubles tournament alongside legend Serena Williams, 43; the pair will face a team that advanced from qualifying. It will be another opportunity for Alcaraz to get comfortable on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows, always with the goal of achieving the incredible feat of winning a Grand Slam after being away from the courts for so long.

Roger Federer, who is in New York for a series of promotional events and was spotted training with Lorenzo Musetti, shared his thoughts on Alcaraz. The former Swiss star—the only player to have won the U.S. Open five consecutive times—told the media: “It’s great to see Carlos again, and I’m glad he made it in time, so we’ll see how he feels as the tournament goes on. I wish him the best.” Federer also expressed regret that he was never able to face the Spaniard during his career: “He’s an exciting player. I never had the chance to play against him because of my knee problems.”