Carlos Alcaraz injury: Canadian Open out, US Open in doubt
The Carlos Alcaraz injury will keep him out of the 2026 Canadian Open in Montréal while he recovers from right wrist tenosynovitis sustained at the Barcelona Open in April. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is training again, but skipping this major warm-up raises serious questions about whether he will be fit for Cincinnati or to defend his US Open title.
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has been sidelined for roughly four months since withdrawing during the clay season. Tests showed the wrist problem was serious enough to rule out Rome, Roland Garros, and the entire grass swing, including Wimbledon. His name is now absent from the National Bank Open entry list in Montréal, where Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and defending champion Ben Shelton are scheduled to play.
Key Takeaways
- Alcaraz was diagnosed with right wrist tenosynovitis at Barcelona and has missed Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon.
- He posted Instagram training clips captioned "On the right path," but Boris Becker said he still looks "far off" match fitness.
- Cincinnati, where he won last year, is now the likeliest return point before a US Open title defense.
- His team is running a cautious mini pre-season rather than rushing back at a two-week Masters event.
- Analysts warn that missing Cincinnati would strongly signal he may also skip the year's final Grand Slam.
Why Is Carlos Alcaraz Missing the Canadian Open?
Alcaraz first hurt his wrist at the Barcelona Open in April, then announced on Instagram that caution meant skipping Rome and Roland Garros while doctors tracked progress. The layoff stretched beyond early estimates, costing him about 4,800 ranking points as Alexander Zverev closed within 270 live points.
Canadian Open organizers published their entry list without Alcaraz this week, extending an absence nearing four months. His camp is not treating Montréal as a hard deadline. Instead, reports describe a measured plan to rebuild match fitness through cardio work, gym sessions, and progressively harder hitting before any tournament return.
What Does His Training Footage Really Show?
Alcaraz recently shared practice videos from his academy with the caption "On the right path." Footage showed light hitting, wrist exercises, and work with an unstrung racket frame—a rehab tool that limits stress on the joint. He has also been seen training without the wrist brace used in earlier recovery stages.
Former champion Boris Becker offered a blunt assessment on social media: "Nice to see him hit a little but still far off I am afraid…" Tennis365 noted that many viewers felt Alcaraz looked nowhere near match-ready, fueling fears he may not return before the US Open. Becker and others pointed to Dominic Thiem and Juan Martín del Potro, whose careers were derailed by wrist injuries, as cautionary tales about returning too soon.
Is the US Open Still Realistic for Carlos Alcaraz?
Yahoo Sports reported that Alcaraz technically has time to decide on the US Open, but missing the Canadian Open removes a critical hard-court tune-up. If he cannot defend his Cincinnati Masters title, that would be a strong signal he may miss the final major of 2026 as well.
The Times of India reported that Alcaraz has about 3,000 ranking points to defend across Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows after last year's North American sweep. Returning before he is fully fit could jeopardize the rest of his season, which is why patience has trumped short-term points. For athletes managing serious joint injuries, the long-game recovery model mirrors principles we cover in longevity and biohacking—protect tissue today to extend peak performance tomorrow.
Can a Cautious Comeback Protect His Long-Term Career?
At 23, Alcaraz already owns seven Grand Slam titles, giving him room to prioritize health over calendar pressure. Becker suggested the wisest move might even be shutting down the rest of 2026 and targeting the 2027 Australian Open if the wrist is not fully stable.
For now, the outlook remains hopeful but unconfirmed. Alcaraz is hitting, building workload, and awaiting medical clearance before a full-intensity mini pre-season. Fans hoping to see him in New York should watch Cincinnati closely—that tournament is widely expected to be the real test of whether this Alcaraz injury timeline ends with a US Open defense or a longer layoff.