Carlos Alcaraz’s Alcaraz injury setback has become a real talking point after he was left off the Canadian Open entry list, with the tournament expected to be his comeback event following the wrist problem he picked up at the Barcelona Open in April.
That absence matters because it extends a run that has already seen him miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon. For a player of his standing, every missed event adds to the same question: is the recovery moving quickly enough for the US Open?
On the right path, but not back yet
Alcaraz did offer a small sign of encouragement by posting training pictures and videos on Instagram after being excluded from the Canadian Open list. He described himself as being "On the right path", which suggests progress rather than alarm.
Still, there is a difference between doing some hitting on court and being ready for the demands of Grand Slam tennis. That is where the concern sits now. The Canadian Open was supposed to be the stage where he returned to competition, but that plan has clearly been pushed back.
Why the comparison is worrying
The wider worry is easy to understand. Boris Becker summed up the uncertainty with a cautious verdict: "Nice to see him hit a little but still far off I am afraid…"
That is the sort of comment that reflects how these injuries can linger. The article also draws comparisons with Dominic Thiem and Juan Martin del Potro, both of whom know how difficult wrist injuries can be for top-level tennis players.
Thiem suffered a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open in 2021, while Juan Martin del Potro’s right-wrist tendon injury after his US Open triumph in 2009 is another reminder of how disruptive this kind of problem can be.
What comes next for Alcaraz?
At 23 years of age, Alcaraz still has time on his side, but the immediate issue is simple: the longer he stays out, the more the US Open becomes a test of timing as much as talent. For now, the signs are better than they were, but the Canadian Open absence shows he is not ready to race back just yet.
Fans will take heart from the training footage. Pundits will focus on the missed tournaments. And Alcaraz, having already sat out Roland Garros and Wimbledon, will know the next update has to be more than just encouraging. It has to be definitive.
