Carlos Alcaraz, the 23-year-old Spaniard currently ranked second in the world, has announced his withdrawal from the Cincinnati Masters as he continues to recover from a hand injury that has sidelined him since April. The decision was confirmed this week by the tournament organizers of the ATP 1000 event.
Alcaraz had hoped to compete in Cincinnati to prepare for the US Open, where he was set to defend his title. However, with his recovery still ongoing, his participation in the final Grand Slam of the year now appears uncertain.
In an official statement, organizers indicated that Alcaraz had withdrawn due to his hand injury. Tournament director Bob Moran expressed his support, stating, “We know he is doing everything possible to return to the tour soon. We wish him the best in his recovery and look forward to seeing him back in Cincinnati in the future.”
The young star was eager to return to the court in Cincinnati, marking his first competition since sustaining the injury during the first round of the Barcelona tournament in April. Since that incident, he has missed several tournaments, including those in Madrid, Rome, and the French Open, where he was a two-time reigning champion.
Additionally, Alcaraz also missed Wimbledon and the Montreal Masters. His recent decision comes just days after he ramped up his training on hard courts, raising hopes for his return. Missing Cincinnati means he will forfeit a significant amount of ATP ranking points and will miss key preparation for the US Open, leaving his future plans for the last Grand Slam of 2026 in question.
