Alcaraz withdraws from Cincinnati event as doubts grow over US Open defence

What the report says

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open because of a wrist injury, according to tournament organisers, adding uncertainty to his build-up to the US Open later this month. Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, reported that the Spaniard had been expected to return at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, where he is the defending champion.

Tournament director Bob Moran said in a statement that Alcaraz is working to recover and return to competition as soon as possible. The article said the 23-year-old has not played since pulling out of the Barcelona Open in April and has already missed several events during his recovery, including the French Open title defence and Wimbledon. He had recently posted training videos, suggesting he was nearing a comeback.

Alcaraz won Cincinnati last year and then went on to claim the US Open, which begins on August 30. He had also won the Australian Open earlier this season, becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam. His withdrawal leaves open the question of whether he will play any warm-up matches before Flushing Meadows, with the Winston-Salem Open mentioned as another possible but unconfirmed option.

The development matters because Alcaraz is one of tennis’s biggest names and a key contender for the US Open title. His absence could affect both the Cincinnati field and the competitive landscape heading into the season’s final major.