Alcaraz opens up on mental strain of injury layoff before US Open defence

Seven time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz says intrusive thoughts about when he would return to competition proved the hardest part of a wrist injury that kept him off the court for nearly five months heading into his US Open title defense.

The 23 year old Spaniard, who became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam after winning his seventh major title at this year’s Australian Open, arrives at Flushing Meadows with limited match preparation but the same weight of expectation as he pursues a third US Open crown.

Alcaraz missed most of the clay court season and sat out the French Open, Wimbledon and the entire North American hardcourt swing because of the injury. He made his first competitive appearance since the layoff earlier this week, playing mixed doubles at the US Open alongside 23 time singles Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Alcaraz said the opening month of his recovery was especially hard because he could not use his right arm at all, though he found some comfort spending time with family and friends at home during that stretch. He said the real mental struggle began once he resumed practice without knowing exactly when he would be ready to compete again, describing constant uncertainty over whether he would make it back for Cincinnati or the US Open, or miss the entire American hardcourt swing entirely. He said his main goal throughout the process was simply to get healthy as quickly as possible and avoid missing further tournaments, adding that those intrusive thoughts were the most difficult part of the entire experience.

The second seeded Alcaraz opens his tournament against Russia’s Roman Safiullin, ranked 98th in the world, and could meet either Arthur Fils or Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals. A potential semifinal matchup looms against 24 time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima.

This year’s tournament will also proceed without world number one Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz’s fiercest rival, after the 25 year old Italian withdrew because of a persistent right knee injury. Alcaraz called the situation strange, noting that the two will not face each other on tour for roughly six or seven months, and he wished Sinner a full recovery and a swift return to his best form.