Carlos Alcaraz is finally ready to return to competitive tennis.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion announced on social media Thursday that he will make his comeback at the 2026 US Open, ending an absence of more than four months because of a right wrist injury.
The US Open begins Aug. 30 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York and runs through Sept. 13. That leaves Alcaraz only 10 days before returning directly to Grand Slam competition without playing another tournament first.
Alcaraz has not competed since April, when wrist discomfort forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open.
Tests subsequently confirmed the injury was serious enough to require an extended recovery period. Alcaraz withdrew from Madrid and Rome before making the difficult decision to miss the French Open, where he was the defending champion.
His absence eventually extended through Wimbledon.
Alcaraz also missed the North American hard-court events in Toronto and Cincinnati, eliminating his opportunities to play competitive matches before returning to New York.
The 23-year-old had initially targeted Cincinnati for his comeback but decided against rushing his recovery. Instead, he continued increasing the intensity of his training, including recent sessions with Holger Rune in Murcia.
His announcement Thursday finally ended months of uncertainty.
Alcaraz confirmed his return through a football transfer-style social media video alongside Fabrizio Romano, signaling that he is ready to compete again after the longest injury absence of his career.
The location of his comeback carries considerable significance.
Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2022, becoming the youngest men’s World No. 1 in ATP rankings history shortly afterward. He captured the tournament again in 2025 and will return to New York as the defending champion.
His inactivity has also affected his position in the rankings.
Alcaraz has fallen to World No. 3 after being unable to defend thousands of ranking points during his absence, adding another challenge as he prepares to immediately return at Grand Slam level.
There will inevitably be questions about his match fitness after more than four months without competitive tennis.
His talent and history in New York remain unquestioned. The greater uncertainty is how quickly his body and timing will respond when five-set matches replace rehabilitation and training sessions.
Alcaraz now has 10 days to complete his preparations before beginning his US Open title defense on Aug. 30.
