Alcaraz withdraws from Cincinnati Open as wrist injury keeps him sidelined
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open because of the wrist injury that has kept him off court since April, tournament organisers have confirmed.
The world number two had entered the event, which begins on 11 August, as part of his build-up to defending the US Open — the final Grand Slam of the year, starting on 30 August. Instead, his wait goes on.
Alcaraz, 23, has not played a competitive match since suffering the injury at the Barcelona Open in April. He missed the French Open, where he was the defending champion, and Wimbledon. Three Masters titles — the tier of tournaments just below the Slams — have come and gone without him.
He won the Cincinnati Open in 2025, making this the second title defence he has been forced to abandon this year after Roland Garros.
Tournament director Bob Moran said the wrist injury will prevent Alcaraz from taking part and that the Spaniard "is doing everything he can to return to playing tournaments as soon as possible" (BBC Sport).
When a player of Alcaraz's ranking pulls out of a tune-up event, the question that follows is always about the Slam. The US Open is less than four weeks away. Alcaraz will now head into his title defence with little or no match practice on hard courts — the surface Flushing Meadows shares with Cincinnati. No warm-up tournament means no chance to test the wrist under competitive conditions before the best in the world apply their pressure.
The timeline is tight. Between now and 30 August, Alcaraz and his team face a straightforward but difficult calculation: rush back and risk aggravating the injury, or arrive in New York underdone and trust class and talent to carry him through the early rounds.
For tennis fans, the absence removes one of the sport's most electric performers from the final hard-court preparation event. Alcaraz at full flow plays with a blend of power and touch that few can match, and his presence lifts any draw. His absence opens up the field at Cincinnati and, potentially, shifts the balance at the US Open.
No date has been set for his return. The US Open entry list includes him, but entry lists reflect intention, not fitness. Until he steps on court, the only certainty is that one of the game's brightest talents remains on the sidelines.
