Andy Roddick Believes the Risk of Injury for Carlos Alcaraz Must Be ‘Next to Nothing’ After US Open Decision

Carlos Alcaraz created a buzz across the tennis world with a simple “Here We Go” post, confirming that he will compete at the 2026 US Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been out since April while recovering from a right wrist injury, making his comeback the tournament’s biggest storyline.

Alcaraz is expected to compete at Flushing Meadows in both singles and mixed doubles. While entering a Grand Slam without any warm-up tournaments is a massive challenge, Roddick believes the Spaniard is making the right decision.

Carlos Alcaraz Receives Andy Roddick’s Backing as Mixed Doubles Return Could Boost US Open Singles Comeback

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has not played on the ATP Tour since April, when he withdrew from the Barcelona Open with a wrist injury. The setback forced Alcaraz to miss the defense of his French Open title and Wimbledon. He was scheduled to return at the Cincinnati Open this month, but later pulled out.

For a top player returning from a long layoff, playing mixed doubles at a Grand Slam could add unnecessary physical strain. However, Roddick believes Alcaraz’s decision to play mixed doubles is a smart way to ease back before playing best-of-five singles matches.

“If you’re Carlos, I think you play mixed doubles because I think it actually adds a little value to your singles venture,” Roddick explained on the “Served With Andy Roddick” podcast. “And I don’t know that I would say that normally.”

And the major concern for fans and analysts surrounding Alcaraz’s return is the health of his right wrist. And Roddick believes that Alcaraz and his team have done their due diligence before deciding on his New York appearance.

“I think for him to play this, I have to think the risk of further injury is next to nothing, right? And it seems like he’s happy to accept that,” the 2003 US Open champion added.

Despite the long layoff, the 23-year-old remains No. 2 in the world rankings. Before his injury, Alcaraz beat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in last year’s US Open final and then began 2026 by winning the Australian Open. He also won the ATP 500 Qatar Open and reached the Monte-Carlo Masters final, where he lost to the Italian before being sidelined.

MORE: Novak Djokovic Sends Bold US Open Warning Amid Jannik Sinner Withdrawal and Carlos Alcaraz Uncertainty

Alcaraz is now set to return at Flushing Meadows later this month, chasing his third US Open title, while Sinner has pulled out of the event due to a knee injury. However, both Alcaraz and Sinner missed the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, and no man has won the US Open since the Masters 1000 format began in 1990 without playing at least one of those two tournaments.

The mixed doubles event begins on August 25, while the singles main draw starts on August 30.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.