Alcaraz closes in on return: training forehand, registered for Cincinnati

After the wrist injury that stopped him in April at the Barcelona tournament, Carlos Alcaraz is finally close to returning to the court. The Spaniard, currently world No. 3, has officially registered for the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, scheduled from August 13 to 23, 2026 in Ohio, the historic warm-up event ahead of the US Open.

The 23-year-old from Murcia is stepping up his preparation and, as documented in an Instagram post, has resumed training his forehand — an encouraging sign after the forced layoff. The right wrist injury forced him to withdraw during the Barcelona tournament in April, causing him to miss the entire European clay-court season, including Roland Garros.

But it's not just about tennis: Alcaraz showed up on social media with a new summer look, sporting braids that went viral online. An image that conveys serenity and eagerness to restart, with the goal of being competitive again on American hard courts.

Cincinnati promises a star-studded field: besides Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (world No. 1) and Novak Djokovic have confirmed their participation — Djokovic returns to Ohio for the first time since winning the 2023 final against Alcaraz himself. A trio that promises great tennis and represents the best possible preparation for the US Open, the season's final Grand Slam.

After about four months on the sidelines, Alcaraz appears to have fully recovered his wrist mobility and confidence in his shots. His return is one of the most anticipated events of the summer tennis season.

Sources

• Ubitennis: [Tra allenamenti e look, il nuovo Carlos Alcaraz: ora ci sono le treccine](https://www.ubitennis.com/blog/2026/07/30/tra-allenamenti-e-look-il-nuovo-carlos-alcaraz-ora-ci-sono-le-treccine/)