Carlos Alcaraz’s return to the 2026 US Open was supposed to be the story. Instead, the conversation around him has also drifted into a more personal lane, after a July sighting on a mega yacht with Claudia Canals reignited speculation about whether the Spaniard has a new girlfriend.
The timing is what gives the rumor extra pull. Alcaraz had been away from competition for several months because of a lingering wrist injury, and his comeback at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center came after what he described as a really tough five months. He said he could not have chosen a better place to return than New York, adding that he missed the crowd, the energy and the competition. That is the backdrop to his second-round match on September 2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he faced Jaime Faria after beating Roman Safiullin.
Claudia Canals, who is identified as a founder of CC Studio and a former reality TV star, first entered the public conversation around Alcaraz in July, when he was spotted getting cozy with her on a mega yacht. The alleged romance remains unconfirmed, and Alcaraz has generally kept his private life out of the spotlight. That has not stopped the speculation from building, especially because the sighting came after he had already told Vanity Fair in May that he sometimes wished he could have more moments for himself.
What Claudia Canals posted before the match
Just before Alcaraz’s second-round match, Canals posted numerous beach photos with the caption “September.” It was the kind of small social-media detail that can take on a bigger meaning when paired with a star athlete and a rumor that has already gained traction.
Alcaraz has not confirmed any relationship. In November, when Elena Vesnina asked him at the ATP Finals whether his heart had been taken, he answered, “No, I’m free. I’m free. I’m free,”. He also said, “I know I’m living a dream life, a life I dreamed of,” while admitting that he sometimes wishes he could have more moments for himself, “to do things a 22-year-old guy would do.”
That is the tension around him now. On court, Alcaraz is trying to re-establish rhythm after a long injury layoff. Off it, he remains one of tennis’s most watched figures, with every appearance, quote and sighting feeding a story he has not chosen to confirm. For now, the clearest answer is still the simplest one: the rumor points to Claudia Canals, but Carlos Alcaraz has not said the relationship is real.
