However, Alcaraz is said to be considering dropping down to ATP 250 level for the first time since February 2024 to try and get some best-of-three set matches under his belt ahead of the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.
According to La Verdad, team Alcaraz is weighing up whether to ask for a wildcard into the Winston-Salem Open, which takes place the week before the US Open. This would give the 23-year-old a chance to test himself on a match court and see how his injured wrist responds to competition.
Alcaraz and his team are said to be feeling positive about his progress since he upped his intensity in training, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion will not return to competition until he is feeling 100 per cent.
Should he compete in Winston-Salem, it would be Alcaraz’s first appearance at an ATP 250 event since he reached the semi-finals of the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires more than two years ago.
The world No. 2. was initially expected to return in Cincinnati ahead of his US Open title defence, but organisers announced his withdrawal on Tuesday and said: “Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open. Wishing all the best to our 2025 champion in his recovery process. Can’t wait to welcome you next year!”
Alcaraz has still been training, and shared a photo of himself and his team on the practice court to his Instagram story on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after pulling out of the Cincinnati Open.
The Spaniard has entered Winston-Salem once before, losing in the semi-finals in 2021 while ranked at No. 54 in the world. He then went on to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open, his best result at a Major tournament at that point.
Just one year later, Alcaraz won his maiden Grand Slam title in New York and also became the youngest world No. 1 in ATP history, aged 19. He now has seven Major trophies and completed the career Slam at the Australian Open in January.