Carlos Alcaraz is the centre of attention at the 2026 US Open, not only to see if the Spanish tennis ace can defend his title, but also to see how he fares in a comeback after a long-term wrist injury.
The 23-year-old last competed in mid-April but appears to be gaining momentum in his men’s singles campaign in New York as he advanced to the third round with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Portugal’s Jaime Faria on Wednesday (2 September).
The seven-time Grand Slam champion won the 2026 Australian Open at the start of the season but skipped the next two Grand Slams due to an injury in his playing right wrist.
After the come-from-behind win, Alcaraz said he is hitting with his forehand as “normal”, just as in his first-round match against Roman Safiullin two days earlier.
“I know once I step on the court, I’ve just got to go for it every time. I’ve got to feel normal,” he told the media after the match with Faria. “I have to hit like I was hitting before the injury. I’m feeling great. There is no reason to be afraid and not hitting normal.”
Alcaraz beat Safiullin in three sets, while the victory over Faria needed four – something the two-time US Open champion took as an opportunity to test his comeback form.
“I realised that playing four sets was really good for me to test everything physically,” he said. “To test my body, how I feel, and how I’m going to feel tomorrow after this match.”
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