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Carlos Alcaraz’s return to tennis is seemingly up in the air yet again, despite the star still appearing on the entry list for the US Open.

The world No 3 is currently in a race against time to get fit for the final Grand Slam of the year, following the rehabilitation of the wrist injury he suffered at the Barcelona Open.

Alcaraz was set to play the Cincinnati Open prior to the US Open, but he was not fit enough in time for the event.

Now, despite hitting the courts at a high intensity in the lead up to the Flushing Meadows tournament, Alcaraz could still miss the US Open due to lack of fitness.

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According to MARCA, Alcaraz ‘will reappear at the Laver Cup if he doesn’t play at the US Open‘, although he is yet to withdraw from the final Grand Slam of the year.

The Laver Cup is set to take place between September 25th and 27th, so it would add about another three weeks onto Alcaraz’s hiatus from tennis.

Alcaraz has already been confirmed to miss Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Chile, with the team already selected, so the Laver Cup would be the next tournament the Spaniard could play.

The star has previously been ever-present at the Laver Cup for Team Europe, appearing at the tournament in the last two seasons before 2026.

He won the Laver Cup with Team Europe in 2024, which was aided by Alcaraz’s singles victories against Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz at the tournament.

In 2025, Team World stunned Team Europe to win the tournament and Fritz earned some revenge by defeating the Spaniard in straight sets in San Francisco.

This year’s event is set to take place in London at the O2 Arena and it should be no surprise that Alcaraz would want to return at the tournament, having heavily praised it previously.

Speaking at the event last year, he said: “I will try to bring positive energy to the team. I want to help Team Europe defend the Laver Cup.

“I love that tournament, and being teammates with players who are usually rivals is something very special. I will give my best, and I’m very excited about the event.”

Alcaraz will play in a Team Europe team that also features Rafael Jodar, Jakub Mensik, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Flavio Cobolli and is being led by Yannick Noah and Tim Henman.

Meanwhile, Team World, which is coached by Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter, will consist of Shelton, Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Bublik, Learner Tien, and Tommy Paul.

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Carlos Alcaraz has now missed five months of action due to the wrist injury he suffered at the Barcelona Open in April.

The unfortunate injury has kept the star out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as Masters events in Madrid, Rome, Montreal, and Cincinnati.

The star is still on the entry list for the US Open, which he has earmarked for his return, but he will miss another tournament which is set to take place in September.

The Spaniard is not set to feature for Spain in their Davis Cup tie against Chile, which is set to take place away from home between the 19th and 20th September.

Alcaraz, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, will not play for Spain on the clay, although Spain’s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer has still picked a strong team for a tough away tie in South America.

Spain’s Davis Cup team to face Chile

• Rafael Jódar
• Daniel Mérida
• Jaume Munar
• Martín Landaluce
• Pedro Martínez

Rafael Jodar, who has taken the ATP Tour by storm in 2026, leads his nation and he will be joined by Daniel Merida, Jaume Munar, Martin Landaluce, and Pedro Martinez.

Spain reached the final of the Davis Cup last year, which Alcaraz also missed with injury, so they are used to playing without their talented talisman.

However, Alcaraz has been impressive for Spain at the Davis Cup since making his debut in 2022.

Alcaraz has won six matches for his country in Davis Cup action, in both singles and debuts. His last appearance came in the quarter finals of the Davis Cup Finals back in 2024, which Spain lost to the Netherlands.

He defeated Tallon Griekspoor in the tie, but he and Marcel Granollers lost their doubles tie to Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp.

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The Davis Cup is one of the few majors that Alcaraz has still not claimed, so it would not be surprising to see him return to the Spain team for the Davis Cup Finals, should the nation reach the Bologna finals at the end of the year.

Speaking at the beginning of the year, after he had earned the Career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open, Alcaraz said winning the Davis Cup with Spain was still one of his major goals in the sport.

“The Davis Cup, it is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain,” said the seven-time Grand Slam champion. “I set up some other goals for the season, and I will try to be ready for, or to try to get those goals.”

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Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback to tennis looks to be imminent, as he has still not currently withdrawn from the US Open, which begins at the end of August.

The Spaniard has been gracing fans with plenty of videos of him training as he appears to be getting very close to making his return, after withdrawing from the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open.

The world No 3 has had plenty of setbacks on his recovery, but he now looks to be getting back to his best and he has been spotted practising with another ATP Tour star during his absence.

On social media, Spanish journalist Germán R. Abril posted a picture of Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune practising ahead of their respective comebacks to the sport.

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Both men have been out of action for a long time, with Alcaraz missing since the Barcelona Open in April, after suffering a wrist injury in a match against Otto Virtanen.

For Rune, however, it has been far longer.

He suffered an ACL injury in his Stockholm Open semi final match against Ugo Humbert in 2025 and he has not been seen on the ATP Tour since.

Rune has entered various tournaments, but he has always pulled out before the event has started. He had earmarked the Hamburg Open on the clay as his return date, but he subsequently pulled out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Many assumed he would now return at the US Open, but he appearance on Andy Roddick’s Served put the dampeners on that as a possibility.

However, the Dane has failed to rule out appearing at the US Open and ending his near-year-long absence from the ATP Tour.

Taking to social media on August 11th, Rune wrote: “I see conclusions on me withdrawing from [the] US Open. I did not withdraw. I am working super hard everyday and as soon as I am ready, I am ready. I hope it will be [the] US Open.”

Rune has also spoken about returning for Denmark’s Davis Cup tie against Bulgaria, which takes place in September after the US Open.

Speaking on Served, Rune said: “We’re looking to maybe start my comeback with Davis Cup at home — that could be a possibility, and I would love that,” Rune told Roddick. “Getting my comeback in front of all my Danish fans would be amazing.

“And then lead into Tokyo and Shanghai, hopefully, that’s what we’re training for. As we get close, we’ll have to see: am I ready or not? But physically I’m holding up well, the Achilles feels good, and I’m starting to see light at the end of the tunnel now.”

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Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski has asserted that Novak Djokovic “has to be protected” by tournament organisers after his Cincinnati Open exit.

Djokovic was upset 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by world No 50 Thiago Agustin Tirante in his opening match at the Masters 1000 event in Mason, Ohio on Saturday.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion dominated the first set, but he struggled physically thereafter in brutal afternoon head and humidity in Cincinnati.

Following the match, Djokovic said he has been dealing with a health problem that causes “a lot of issues” when he plays in such challenging weather conditions.

“It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years. A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot,” the 39-year-old Serbian explained.

“I did anticipate it, but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.”

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On the latest episode of his Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast, Rusedski argued Djokovic should not be scheduled to play during the day in difficult conditions.

“I’m just happy to have Novak around whenever it’s possible. He’s 39 years of age, what he’s achieved is phenomenal,” said the former world No 4.

“But it’s so hard physically, especially in the heat and the humidity in Cincinnati. It can be brutal.

“I remember playing matches there — I was just standing there and I was dripping, you can barely hold your racket. The heat is unbearable, the ice towel has to be on.

“Novak has to be protected. He can’t be playing during the day. He has to be playing in the evenings, from 7 o’clock onwards. He’s earned the right to do so.

“And especially against a young gun like the Argentinian Tirante, who can hit the ball an absolute ton. So, that was a brutal scheduling for Novak.

“I think in the US Open, he’ll be protected, and I hope he continues to play for a long time.

“Even youngsters would struggle in that heat. I mean, look at Jack Draper in his match, he wasn’t finding it easy, as well, and he’s a lot younger than Novak.”

The former British No 1 continued: “And the other thing is he had the longest game I think in a long time — 17 minutes plus. In that heat, 17 minutes… I mean, that is brutal.

“His opponent made it physical, took advantage of the conditions after losing the opening set, and that’s what you have to do against Novak.

“But we have to give him a little bit of love and put him at the right time of day if you want to keep him in the tournament!

“So, for me, scheduling plays a part. I know you can’t always protect your big names because of rain and different things, but I think sometimes, you have to do those things.”

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Carlos Alcaraz appears to be stepping up his practice sessions ahead of the US Open, but the defending champion has been warned against rushing his comeback to play in New York.

The Spaniard has not played a competitive match since sustaining a serious wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April and he was forced to pull out of this week’s Cincinnati Masters after admitting he was not ready to return.

Social media platforms have been filled with images of Alcaraz striking the ball with increased intensity, but a return at the US Open would be a big risk as he would be playing best-of-five-set tennis in his first match in his comeback.

Now former British No 1 Greg Rusedski has warned Alcaraz will be taking a big risk if he plays in New York, as he suggests a lower-key comeback may be advisable.

“I think it’s a big risk. I think you’ve got to come out of a two-out-of-three-set match to start because it’s one thing to practice, it’s another thing to play a match,” said Rusedski on the next edition of his podcast, which will be released on Monday.

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“The adrenaline in the body, going hell for leather, you always go up with your tennis about an extra five, ten per cent from what you do in practice, no matter how hard you train.

“Plus, there’s the nerves and the expectation. You’re not gonna bounce back and come in with a three-out-of-five set match. I would be shocked if he plays the US Open. To me, he had to play Cincinnati to have a chance to go to the Open.

“So I would be surprised. After the US Open, I think possibly we might see him back, or maybe not even till next year.

“He’s not going to make the mistake with his risk. He doesn’t want to risk it. So I don’t see him still playing at the US Open, even though we’re seeing a lot of progress in his comeback.”

Rusedski also believes there is some doubt over whether Jannik Sinner will play at the US Open, after the Italian pulled out of the Cincinnati Masters with a knee problem.

“Well, if he’s not in New York early in the week before the tournament starts, I don’t see him playing,” he added.

“That leaves it wide open. It actually makes it rather exciting. Who’s gonna win the Slam this year? (Alexander) Zverev has the French. Sinner has Wimbledon and we could have a fourth. Four different men’s winning a slam if Sinner and Alcaraz don’t show up, or you could have Zverev, like London buses, win two in a year.

“So it just makes everything intriguing. And we won’t know more until the week before the US Open with Sinner, because he’s desperate to get in there and try to win another Slam.

“But health is your wealth, and these guys have to take the time. It just shows you how physical the tour is. Because Sinner looked like the guy who’s never going to break down, and he’s the one who’s having a knee problem now.

“I just want to stop talking about injuries. Come on. Let’s stop the injuries. Let’s all get healthy. Let’s get everybody back on board.”

READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz ‘trained at 55% last week’, says Spanish tennis legend

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As Novak Djokovic turned to his team mid-way through his match against Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante, it was clear to all that he had no answers to a challenge he has been dealing with for some time.

At the age of 39, Djokovic’s levels of excellence against rivals who are often close to half his age is a remarkable tribute to his fitness and his dedication to continue his career, with his results over the last couple of years justifying his decision to continue his tennis journey into his 40th year.

Yet it’s not just injuries that give you a clue that your time may be up, with the issues Djokovic has been failing to deal with when the temperatures and humidity are elevated leaving questions over whether he can still compete for the biggest titles.

Djokovic would have beaten Tirante with something to spare if he didn’t suffer a physical meltdown in the Cincinnati daytime heat, but that is all part of the challenge that needs to be overcome to compete for titles and it seems the Serbian is starting to doubt whether he can carry on for much longer.

“It was not an enjoyable match for me, for sure,” he said after his latest defeat. “The way I felt… Not the first and I guess not the last time, but it is what it is.”

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He then went on to hint he is suffering from a medical condition that cannot be cured as he added: “It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years. A lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot.

“I did anticipate it, but there are all these things, like nerves and everything involved that make it worse, and that’s what happened.”

Djokovic went on to suggest he was doubtful whether he would play at the Cincinnati Open again, in what was a candid insight into how he is thinking as he weighs up when to call time on his career.

The 24-time Grand Slam-winning great always suggests he is ‘looking forward to returning next year’ when he pulls out of a tournament, but this was the first time we have heard him suggest he will not be back 12 months from now.

That begs the question of whether Djokovic will still be playing professional tennis by then and if he does suffer an earlier-than-expected exit at the upcoming US Open, that decision may be crystallised in his mind.

The primary reason why Djokovic is continuing his career is to try and land the 25th Grand Slam title that would move him ahead of Margaret Court and into a league of his own for major title wins in tennis.

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Physical issues have halted that ambition time and again over the last couple of years, as well as the stunning form of world No 1 Jannik Sinner and No 2 Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic has now reached a point in his career where he needs some luck with the draw, the conditions of the court and the climate and maybe even defeats for Sinner and Alcaraz to have a chance to win another Grand Slam title.

That means he has a lot of pieces of the jigsaw to fall his way and he may soon conclude his last tennis dream is the one that will elude him.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s latest comments prove he’s ready to win the US Open

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Novak Djokovic lost yet another gruelling match to end his Cincinnati Open campaign at the first hurdle against Thiago Agustin Tirante.

Djokovic comfortably took the first set, but eventually the heat and humidity of Cincinnati took its toll on the 39-year-old and he fell to the Argentine.

The Serbian needed a medical time-out after holding his serve in an epic 18-minute game, and it lead Brad Gilbert to call for several rule changes.

Taking to X, the former coach of Andy Murray, Coco Gauff, and Andre Agassi said: “I wish I could change the injury time out rules and comfort breaks.

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“First thing I [would] get rid of: No evaluation time especially on a preexisting injury. Go back to three minute medical time out, that’s it. And [it] has to be on your serve or you forfeit the points. Bathroom breaks should be three minutes.”

There has already been controversy around breaks at the Cincinnati Open, as Rafael Jodar upset Denis Shapovalov by taking a break to sort out his shoelaces.

This has been a recurring theme in tennis so far this year, as Felix Auger-Aliassime complained about Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s medical time out during their match at Wimbledon.

The Spaniard called for a medical time out mid-match while Auger-Aliassime was serving, which infuriated the Canadian.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Auger-Aliassime said: “Now what I can say, though, is that I think the rule has to change. I think that obviously as long as the rule is like that, a player will use it to their advantage.

“I think that it’s very simple: if you’re hurt bad, or whatever you’re hurt, while the game’s going on of your opponent, in the middle of the game, the opponent is serving, the shot clock is on, basically when you’re hurt bad, you’re forfeiting every point until you can call the physio.

“If the physio helps you recover, you play your service game. If you’re hurt bad, then you retire, obviously. But to stop in the middle of an opponent’s service game and to be able to call the physio, I think that’s a disgrace of a rule. I don’t see any other sport where you can do that. I mark my words. It’s a disgrace of a rule.”

It certainly seems to be a controversy rumbling on and Gilbert wading in on the debate will only continue to put pressure on the organisers of the ATP and WTA Tours.

The Cincinnati Open continues until the 23rd August, when the finals take place in both the men’s and women’s draws.

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Alexander Zverev survived a scare against Cameron Norrie, but the same cannot be said for some of his biggest rivals on the ATP Tour.

While Zverev was able to turn around a set deficit to beat Norrie in three sets, three seeds were dumped out at the second round stage of the tournament.

Novak Djokovic was stunned by Thiago Agustin Tirante, in what could be the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s final-ever match at the Cincinnati Open.

Likewise, Valentin Vacherot was beaten in straight sets by Daniel Vallejo and Luciano Darderi was stunned by wildcard Rinky Hijikata by the same scoreline.

That has left Zverev in a very good situation at the Cincinnati Open as he continues to look to capitalise on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawals.

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Zverev won Roland Garros and reached the final of Wimbledon without Alcaraz in the draw, although he failed to capitalise when both Alcaraz and Sinner did not play the Canadian Open.

However, he may not get a better chance to win a Masters tournament than the Cincinnati Open, with the whole half of his draw opening up in Ohio.

Djokovic, Vacherot, and Darderi were all in Zverev’s half of the draw, so he will have lower-ranked players to play until the latter stages of the tournament.

His next round opponent is Terence Atmane, when it could have been seeded player Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Should he get through that he will play either Tommy Paul or Vallejo in the fourth round of the tournament, while Rafael Jodar or Flavio Cobolli look the most likely opponent in the quarter finals.

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• 3R: Terence Atmane (confirmed)
• 4R: Tommy Paul
• QF: Rafael Jodar
• SF: Alex de Minaur
• F: Ben Shelton

Zverev famously beat both rising stars en route to his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros earlier this year, so he will be confident he can do the same in Cincinnati.

He will no longer have to play Djokovic in the semi finals, so Alex de Minaur looks to be the most likely opponent for Zverev, although the likes of Jakub Mensik and Arthur Fils will fancy their chances of getting to the final four.

Ben Shelton, fresh from his Canadian Open title win, or Felix Auger-Aliassime, look to be Zverev’s most likely final opponent, but there is plenty of tennis to be played yet.

After the first couple of days, there is almost certainly set to be more shocks, but Zverev would have absolutely taken this situation at the start of the tournament.

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Alex Eala has enjoyed an incredible streak on the WTA Tour over the summer months, particularly on the grass and the early events of the North American hardcourt swing.

The 21-year-old won a Challenger in Birmingham on the grass and followed it up by reaching the semi finals of the Berlin Open, and reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon.

The star continued that good form by winning her first WTA title at the Washington Open, and she then went on to reach the round of 16 at the Canadian Open.

That means Eala has played plenty of tennis recently and many fans and pundits have shared concern for the star’s fitness ahead of the US Open.

Eala has played more than anyone else on the WTA Tour and her schedule shows no signs of slowing down at the Cincinnati Open and the final Grand Slam of the year.

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The Filipina star has been confirmed to play an exhibition match at the US Open as part of the Grand Slam’s opening week too, so she’s added another match to her schedule.

Eala will play her friend Iva Jovic at the tournament as part of tournament’s ‘Stars of the Open’, which takes place at 6pm on Thursday, August 27 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

While this is just further proof that Eala is one of the biggest stars in tennis right now, it does seem like another scheduling faux pas from the Filipina star.

She is already set to play the US Open Mixed Doubles alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime at the start of the opening week, which means she has not given herself much time at all to prepare for the Grand Slam.

That means Eala will have to play what is essentially eight weeks of tennis in a row, dating back to the Washington Open, if she gets to the second week of the US Open.

That is unsustainable for anyone, no matter what your age, and it’s hard not to see that as a major error for the burgeoning 21-year-old.

While one hopes that it will not come back to cost Eala, it’s hard to see the star entering the US Open main draw in a fit enough position to go on a deep run at Flushing Meadows.

Eala’s schedule is not set to slow down following the US Open either, as she has already signed up for the Singapore Open in September, which takes place as part of the WTA Tour’s Asian swing.

There will surely be a breaking point for Eala at some point, and we can all hope that it won’t come on the biggest stage at the US Open.

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Alex Eala’s thrilling run of form continued as she cruised through her opening match at the Cincinnati Open, as she admitted her life has changed in recent weeks.

Eala, who is seeded No 17 for the WTA 1000 tournament, took her record on North American hard courts to an impressive 8-1 over the last few weeks as she beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Eala was leading 6-1, 3-0 when her opponent was forced to retire, but she admitted her level was where she wanted it to be after another big-hitting display.

“I think that I was playing well, I think I felt the ball good, was really focused and tried to keep myself in the zone, I think I did a good job of that,” said Eala.

“Of course, nobody likes to finish a match with a retirement, first and foremost, I just want to wish Gabriela-Ruse a speedy recovery. Injuries aren’t fun, so I hope she recovers soon.”

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Eala’s star status continues to build, and another bumper crowd watched her opening match in Cincinnati.

There were plenty of Philippine flags in evidence as the Eala fan club got the win they were hoping for and she admitted she is having to adapt to life as a tennis A-lister.

“My days have gotten a little more packed with the commitments and spending time with you guys (the media), but obviously in a very good way, and I’m enjoying it a lot,” added Eala.

“I think it’s a good sign, and it’s helping me become, I guess, a stronger player and be more kind of established on tour.”

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Eala’s success on court is showing no sign of waning and this latest win saw her move up to a career-high No 18 in the live WTA Rankings.

She is also getting praise from high-profile voices, with former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski among her most vocal supporters.

Eala will now face a tough test against 2025 Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova in Cincinnati, but Rusedski suggests she should fear no one after a thrilling run to the WTA Tour title in Washington earlier this month saw her beat a host of top players.

“Why should she care whether she’s playing an Anisimova, whoever’s in the section?” asked Rusedski on his podcast.

“Look at the people she beat to win Washington. It was world-class players from start to finish. Then she goes to Toronto running on fumes and emotions and still wins a couple of matches as well.

“So I’m not worried about it. She competes, she fights, she’s so mentally tough that it doesn’t matter who’s in her way. You’ve got to play great tennis to beat her. And I see her only going one direction and that’s up.

“She had a seven-match win streak on the WTA tour, which was impressive. By match eight against Bencic, she ran out of gas a little bit in Toronto, but she is one to watch in Cincinnati.”

READ NEXT: Alex Eala’s full press conference as she reveals what would make a ‘successful’ Cincinnati Open

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