Carlos Alcaraz has shared a positive update on his injury recovery, just hours after sparking concerns over his absence from the 2026 National Bank Open in Montréal. The Spaniard has been sidelined for nearly three months with a wrist injury.
What happened to Carlos Alcaraz?
Carlos Alcaraz sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April and has since missed several major tournaments, including the ATP Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, as well as the Grand Slams in Paris and London.
The 23-year-old has already forfeited 4,800 ranking points during his time away from the tour and risks losing even more if his spell on the sidelines continues. His absence from the National Bank Open has cast fresh doubt over his return to the tour.
Why it matters for Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is at risk of slipping in the rankings as No. 3 Alexander Zverev continues to close the gap. Alcaraz currently holds 8,160 points in the live rankings, while Zverev has climbed to 7,890 points.
The World No. 2 has a daunting task of defending 3,000 points during the North American hardcourt swing, having won both Cincinnati and the US Open last season. With the final Grand Slam of 2026 approaching, Alcaraz will hope to regain full fitness before returning to one of the most competitive stretches of the season.
What comes next for Carlos Alcaraz?
Carlos Alcaraz has recently been spotted intensifying his physical training, notably without the wrist brace he wore during the early stages of his recovery. He shared footage of his on-court training on Instagram, captioning the post "On the right path", suggesting he remains optimistic about his comeback.
In the post, Alcaraz was seen training with a wrist bandage and an unstrung racket frame, potentially allowing him to focus on his stroke mechanics and perform safer warm-up exercises through shadow swings. However, he did not provide any update regarding his potential return to the tour.
The National Bank Open will feature top names such as Jannik Sinner, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Zverev, and defending champion Ben Shelton, among others. Carlos Alcaraz will be eager to regain his fitness and return to the tour as soon as possible to compete with the best players in the world.