Alcaraz withdraws from Cincinnati with wrist injury ahead of U.S. Open

MADRID: Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open as he continues to recover from a wrist injury, tournament organisers said on Tuesday, raising fresh concerns over the Spaniard’s readiness to defend his U.S. Open title later this month.

The world number two has not competed since retiring during his second-round match at the Barcelona Open in April because of the injury. He had been expected to make his comeback at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, scheduled for Aug. 13-23, where he won the title last year.

Alcaraz also missed the chance to defend his French Open crown and was forced to sit out Wimbledon as his recovery continued. The 23-year-old had recently posted videos of himself training, fuelling hopes that he was nearing a return to competition.

“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” Cincinnati tournament director Bob Moran said in a statement.

The ATP 250 event in Winston-Salem, which begins on Aug. 23, remains Alcaraz’s final opportunity to gain match practice before the U.S. Open. However, the Spaniard has not indicated whether he intends to enter the tournament.

His absence from Cincinnati leaves further uncertainty over his preparation for the year’s final Grand Slam, where he is scheduled to begin the defence of the title he captured last season.