Alcaraz trains without wrist brace, targeting August return on US hard courts after two-month layoff

The layoff

Carlos Alcaraz has not competed since a first-round victory over Otto Virtanen at the ATP 500 in Barcelona in mid-April. A right wrist injury, whose exact nature has remained undisclosed, then forced the Spaniard out of a string of high-profile events: the Mutua Madrid Open, the Internazionali d'Italia, Roland Garros, the Queen's Club Championships and, most recently, Wimbledon, which begins on 29 June. Across that span the world number two lost more than 3,000 ATP ranking points but still holds second place, over 2,500 points ahead of Alexander Zverev.

A video without the brace

On 13 June, fitness trainer Alberto Lledó posted a short clip showing Alcaraz running shirtless beside him, with no protection on the right wrist. In all previous public appearances since the injury — including the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony — the 23-year-old had worn either a rigid splint or, in recent weeks, a lighter bandage. Lledó captioned the Instagram video with a line that was taken as an encouraging sign:

“The weeks fly by! I can't keep up with you anymore.”

Road to Flushing Meadows

Although Alcaraz has yet to pick up a racquet again in competition, Italian media report that he has already returned to on-court training. The immediate objective, they note, will be the North American hard-court swing in August, most likely the Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati, culminating with the US Open at Flushing Meadows — the last Grand Slam of 2026 and a title he won last year by beating Jannik Sinner in the final.

Ranking buffer

The prolonged absence has cost Alcaraz heavily in points, but a large cushion built earlier in the season keeps him firmly behind only Sinner. That buffer will face its next test after Wimbledon, when points from the 2025 edition drop off, potentially reshaping the top of the rankings further.

What remains unknown

The exact medical diagnosis has never been disclosed publicly, and no formal return date has been set. The video, while welcomed by fans, does not confirm when Alcaraz will be match-fit again. Observers caution that running without a brace is only one step in a full recovery that still requires pain-free hitting and competitive point play.