Alcaraz Eyes Cincinnati Return as Wrist Recovery Keeps Comeback Unclear

Overview

• Alcaraz injured his right wrist at the Barcelona Open in April and has missed the clay and grass swings, including Roland Garros and Wimbledon, marking his longest layoff since 2020.
• He is listed for the Cincinnati Open and the US Open and has also signed up for the Laver Cup and the Six Kings exhibition, but tournament entries do not equal medical clearance.
• The Spaniard released practice footage in late July showing hard hitting with an apparent wrist bandage that excited fans but did not provide evidence of sustained match fitness.
• Former players and commentators, including Robbie Koenig, have urged caution and warned that rushing back after a wrist injury risks long‑term damage based on past cases such as del Potro and Thiem.
• If Alcaraz cannot compete in Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows he could lose roughly 3,000 hard‑court ranking points and the absence would have commercial effects given his outsized draw and recent lower TV peaks without him.