Greg Rusedski does not expect Carlos Alcaraz to be ready for the US Open, saying he would be very surprised if the Spaniard plays in New York as he works back from a wrist injury.
Speaking on Off Court, the former player and podcast commentator pointed to Alcaraz’s recent recovery video as the main reason for his doubt. Rusedski said the footage suggested Alcaraz was hitting the ball with very little force and still moving carefully, which is why he believes the wrist issue is still a serious concern.
The timing matters because the Cincinnati Masters 1000 is scheduled to begin on August 13th, and that event now looks like the most important test before any decision on the US Open. Alcaraz is expected to be in the final phase of recovery before a planned return in Cincinnati, making that tournament a useful indicator of whether he can handle the demands of a best of 5 sets Grand Slam in New York.
Why Cincinnati matters
Rusedski’s comments frame Cincinnati as the next checkpoint rather than a simple tune-up. If Alcaraz is still easing back into full intensity there, it would be hard to imagine him immediately going from cautious practice to the physical grind of a Grand Slam of the US Open. If he looks sharp in Cincinnati Masters 1000, though, the conversation changes quickly.
Rusedski also stressed how much tennis misses Alcaraz, especially because of the rivalry with Sinner. He said that rivalry was incredible over the last two years and added that their Roland Garros match was his favorite match of all time.
For now, the message is simple: Alcaraz needs time, and the wrist recovery appears to be the deciding factor. Rusedski said he hopes the star takes the time he needs, avoids unnecessary risk and returns fully recovered, even if that means missing time later in the season. With Alcaraz Grand Slams already central to the sport’s biggest storylines, his status for New York will remain one of the key questions of the summer.
