World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the 2026 Cincinnati Open because of a lingering wrist injury, dealing another setback to his comeback plans and casting fresh doubt over his participation in the US Open later this month.
The Spanish star, who won the Cincinnati Masters title last year, had been expected to make his return at the ATP Masters 1000 event after several months on the sidelines. However, tournament organisers confirmed that Alcaraz would miss the competition as he continues rehabilitation from the wrist injury that has kept him out of action since April.
Alcaraz has not played competitively since sustaining the injury during the Barcelona Open earlier this year. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has already missed several major tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon, in an effort to make a full recovery before returning to the ATP Tour.
His withdrawal from Cincinnati is a significant blow because the tournament was expected to provide valuable match practice ahead of the US Open, where he is the defending champion. Without competitive action before the year’s final Grand Slam, questions remain over whether the 23-year-old will be fit enough to defend his title in New York.
Tournament director Bob Moran expressed support for the Spaniard, saying organisers understood that Alcaraz was doing everything possible to return to competition safely. The tournament also wished the defending champion a speedy recovery.
The latest setback also affects the ATP Tour’s build-up to the US Open, with fans hoping to see another showdown between Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Their rivalry has become one of the defining storylines in men’s tennis, and Alcaraz’s absence from another major event would be a disappointment for the sport.
Medical experts have consistently advised caution in the management of wrist injuries, particularly for elite tennis players whose performance depends heavily on powerful forehand and backhand strokes. Alcaraz and his team have repeatedly stated that a full recovery remains the priority over an early return to competition.
With the US Open scheduled to begin later this month, attention will now focus on Alcaraz’s rehabilitation and whether he can regain full fitness in time to defend one of the sport’s biggest titles.
