Carlos Alcaraz's long-awaited return to competitive tennis has been put on hold after the Spaniard withdrew from the Cincinnati Open, raising fresh questions over his preparations for the US Open later this month.

Tournament organisers confirmed on Tuesday that the world No. 2 will not feature in the ATP Masters 1000 event, where he was due to defend the title he won last year. However, neither Alcaraz nor his team publicly disclosed the reason behind the withdrawal.

The decision comes just days before the hard-court tournament begins and leaves the 23-year-old without a competitive match since April, despite recent signs that his comeback was nearing.

"We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible," Cincinnati Open tournament director Bob Moran said in a statement. "We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future."

Comeback on hold

Alcaraz has not played since suffering a right wrist injury during the Barcelona Open in April, a setback that forced him to miss several major events, including the Madrid Open, Italian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

In recent weeks, however, optimism had been building around his return. The seven-time Grand Slam champion shared videos and photographs of himself back on the practice courts, while Spanish media reported that his absence from the Canadian Open was part of a carefully managed recovery programme rather than a fresh setback.

That had fuelled expectations that Cincinnati would mark his return to the ATP Tour. Instead, the Spaniard has opted to skip one of the biggest lead-up events to the US Open, although no official reason has been given for the decision.

The withdrawal means Alcaraz misses a valuable opportunity to test his fitness and regain match sharpness before the year's final Grand Slam.

US Open prep takes a hit

Cincinnati represented more than just another tournament for Alcaraz. As the defending champion, he was set to protect crucial ATP ranking points while also building momentum ahead of his US Open title defence.

The Spaniard enjoyed a sensational start to the season by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. However, his momentum was halted by the wrist injury, keeping him out of competition for nearly four months.

With Cincinnati now off his schedule, attention will turn to whether Alcaraz can secure competitive match practice before the US Open begins on August 30. The ATP 250 event in Winston-Salem, which starts on August 23, remains his final potential tune-up, although he has not indicated whether he plans to participate.

For now, Alcaraz remains entered for the US Open, but his withdrawal from Cincinnati means he will head into the final stretch before Flushing Meadows with more questions than answers surrounding his fitness and readiness to defend one of the sport's biggest titles.

A season of highs and lows

Alcaraz's 2025 campaign began with a historic triumph at the Australian Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in a five-set final to claim his third consecutive Grand Slam title. That victory made him the youngest man in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam, a feat accomplished at just 23 years old. He joined an elite group of legends including Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The win in Melbourne extended his dominance on hard courts and cemented his status as the heir apparent to the sport's old guard. He was widely expected to challenge for the calendar-year Grand Slam, a feat not achieved since Rod Laver in 1969. But the injury in Barcelona derailed those ambitions.

The Barcelona setback

Alcaraz arrived at the Barcelona Open as the defending champion and a heavy favourite. He had won the title at the same event in 2023 and 2024, and Spanish fans were eager to see him continue his red-clay dominance. However, during his opening match against Argentina's Sebastian Baez, Alcaraz felt a sharp pain in his right wrist while hitting a forehand. He attempted to continue but soon retired from the match, visibly frustrated.

Medical scans later revealed a partial tear in the scapholunate ligament of his right wrist, an injury that typically requires weeks of immobilisation followed by gradual rehabilitation. The diagnosis forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, and ultimately the French Open, where he was the two-time defending champion. He also had to skip Wimbledon, a tournament he had won in 2023 and 2024.

For a player who had never missed a Grand Slam due to injury before, the layoff was a significant mental and physical challenge. Alcaraz admitted in a recent interview that he had never faced such a long period away from competition, and that he had to learn patience during the recovery process.

The importance of Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Open, held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, is one of the most prestigious ATP Masters 1000 events on the calendar. It serves as a key indicator of form in the weeks leading up to the US Open, with the same hard-court conditions and a similar ball speed to those at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz had won the Cincinnati title in 2024, defeating Frances Tiafoe in a three-set thriller that showcased his remarkable athleticism and court coverage. That victory was his 17th career title and his first on hard courts since the 2023 US Open. He had been expected to use the 2025 edition to fine-tune his game and build confidence after his long injury layoff.

Without any competitive matches since April, Alcaraz now faces a stark reality. If he does not play Winston-Salem, he will enter the US Open with essentially no match rhythm. That would be a risky proposition for any player, but particularly for someone who relies heavily on movement and timing like Alcaraz.

Ranking implications

Alcaraz's withdrawal also has significant implications for the ATP rankings. As the defending champion in Cincinnati, he was set to defend 1,000 ranking points. His absence means he will drop those points, which could cost him his No. 2 world ranking.

The current world No. 3, Jannik Sinner, is also recovering from injury and did not play in Cincinnati last year, so the rankings race remains fluid. However, several other players have the opportunity to close the gap. Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are all in the Cincinnati draw and could leapfrog Alcaraz with strong performances.

Alcaraz's ranking position will also be affected by his US Open title defence. If he is unable to defend his 2,000 points from winning the 2024 US Open, he could fall as low as No. 5 in the world ahead of the Asian swing. That would affect his seeding at the final Grand Slam and make for a potentially tougher draw.

What's next for Alcaraz?

The immediate question is whether Alcaraz will enter Winston-Salem, an ATP 250 event typically considered a tune-up for lesser-known players. His team could also organise a private practice match or an exhibition to give him court time, but nothing has been confirmed.

Alcaraz's coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, has been cautious with his player's recovery throughout the season. Ferrero emphasised in a recent press conference that the team is not willing to rush Alcaraz back to the tour, as a re-injury would be far more damaging than missing additional tournaments.

The long-term view is that Alcaraz's health is the priority. At 23, he has a career that could span another decade or more. Missing one US Open, while disappointing, is not catastrophic. But given the level of expectation surrounding him, every absence brings renewed scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the tennis world will watch closely to see if Alcaraz announces his participation in the US Open in the coming days. The tournament's main draw is scheduled to take place on August 28, and the entry list remains subject to change until the first ball is struck. Alcaraz's name was still on the official entry list on Tuesday, but his withdrawal from Cincinnati raises legitimate doubts about his availability.

Fan and analyst reactions

News of Alcaraz's withdrawal was met with a mix of disappointment and concern on social media. Many fans expressed sympathy for the young Spaniard, while others questioned why his team waited so long to make the announcement. Some analysts pointed out that Alcaraz had been seen practicing in recent days and looked sharp, suggesting the withdrawal might be precautionary rather than due to a sudden setback.

However, and as the tournament statement indicated, the decision was likely made to avoid any unnecessary risk. Cincinnati is a high-intensity event with a demanding draw. Even if Alcaraz were 90% fit, competing against the likes of Medvedev or Zverev in the early rounds could aggravate the wrist.

The silver lining for Alcaraz is his age. He has time on his side and has already proven that he can come back from adversity. He returned from a similar wrist problem in 2023, albeit shorter, and went on to win the Indian Wells title a few weeks later. His resilience and mental toughness are well documented.

For now, the priority is a full recovery. The US Open may be the year's last Grand Slam, but it is not the last opportunity for Alcaraz to add to his legacy. The 2025 season has already been a remarkable one in terms of his Australian Open victory, and there are still the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup to look forward to.

As the tennis circuit moves toward Flushing Meadows, the absence of a fully fit Carlos Alcaraz would be a significant blow to the tournament's appeal. Fans will be hoping that he can step onto the court on August 30, if not before. Until then, the uncertainty remains.

Source:MSN News