Alcaraz’s US Open fate hinges on Cincinnati comeback, says Rusedski

Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of playing at the US Open are effectively riding on whether he can return at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 next month, according to former world number four Greg Rusedski.

The Spaniard has been sidelined for almost four months with a right wrist injury and has not played since 15 April, when he was forced to withdraw during his debut appearance at the Barcelona Open (Conde de Godo).

Rusedski believes the Cincinnati event, which starts on 13 August, will be decisive in determining whether the two-time major champion can compete at the final Grand Slam of the season in New York.

Speaking on the “Off Court” podcast, the Briton said: “Alcaraz, to have any chance of playing at the US Open, has to play in Cincinnati,” adding: “If he plays in Cincinnati and the wrist holds up, it will be great news for our sport because we definitely need him back.”

Four-month absence and six major events missed

Alcaraz, from Murcia, has missed a significant stretch of the season since suffering his wrist problem in Barcelona. The injury has already ruled him out of six major tournaments: Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s, Wimbledon and the Canada Masters 1000.

His name has been included on the entry list for Cincinnati, but his participation is still uncertain and will depend on how his recovery progresses in the coming weeks. The American hard-court event is increasingly being viewed as the most likely platform for his competitive return.

Rusedski was unequivocal about what it would mean if Alcaraz is unable to take part in Ohio. “If he does not play in Cincinnati, then we know he will not play at the US Open, and he will have been away from tennis for far too long,” he said, underlining the importance of the Masters tournament as a final fitness test before New York.

Caution urged over timing of return

Although keen to see Alcaraz back on court, Rusedski stressed that the 21-year-old should not rush his comeback and must respect the demands of his rehabilitation.

“He has to be smart, because he needs to increase his training load gradually to a certain level, and he does not want to rush too much,” Rusedski explained, suggesting a carefully managed build-up is essential if Alcaraz is to avoid a setback with his wrist.

The British former player also hinted that the structure of the Cincinnati Masters could help ease Alcaraz back into top-level competition, implying that aspects of the tournament format might make his return more manageable. However, he did not reveal any further details on how the event’s schedule or conditions might favour the Spaniard.

For now, the tennis world is left waiting on a single decision: whether Alcaraz and his team judge that his wrist has recovered enough to endure the demands of Masters-level play in Cincinnati. If the answer is no, Rusedski is convinced that Flushing Meadows will come too soon, turning what could have been “great news” for the sport into another major setback for one of its leading stars.