Former Pro Issues Stark Warning on Carlos Alcaraz Potentially Missing the US Open – ‘You Need To Build It Up’

Carlos Alcaraz has been deeply missed on the tennis court since a nagging right wrist injury sidelined him back in April. Sticking to a strict recovery plan, he is all set to compete soon. Yet as the US Open approaches, the tennis world is wondering whether he will return to his top form after a long time away from the court. According to former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski, his comeback to the top is entirely dependent on one specific tournament.

Former ATP Pro Issues Stark Warning on Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open Chances After Returning From Injury

Alcaraz stepped back into the global spotlight in New York, where he was seen celebrating Spain’s thrilling 2026 World Cup victory over Argentina. But while he smiled and cheered for his country, fans quickly noticed that Alcaraz was still wearing a protective brace on his right wrist.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner had also been constantly updating fans on his recovery, sharing training clips. When discussing the Spaniard’s situation and reviewing recent practice footage, Rusedski gave a realistic assessment.

“What I saw from the last clip, you know, didn’t look like much, and you need to build it up,” Rusedski said on the newest episode of his podcast, “Off Court With Greg Rusedski.” “And it’s not like you’re playing a two-out-of-three major.”

Grand Slam tennis is brutal. Men have to play best-of-five sets, which demands a lot of stamina. That is why Rusedski views the upcoming Cincinnati Masters as a proving ground for the current World No. 3.

“To make the jump up to three out of five sets and to have any chance to play, he’s got to play Cincinnati,” Rusedski insisted. “If he plays Cincinnati and the wrist holds up, that is exciting news for our sport because we definitely need him back. But if he doesn’t play Cincinnati, we know the US Open isn’t going to happen.”

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It was during his opening match at the Barcelona Open in April that he had a right wrist injury, diagnosed as tenosynovitis, which is an inflammation of the tendon sheath. That sidelined him for roughly four months, forcing him to withdraw from the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon.

However, he is scheduled to play in Cincinnati from Aug. 13 to 23. The 23-year-old will also be looking forward to defending his title at the US Open.