Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz said the uncertainty over when he would return to competition was the most difficult part of a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for nearly five months ahead of his U.S. Open title defense.
The 23-year-old Spaniard, who became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam when he won his seventh major at this year's Australian Open, returns to Flushing Meadows with limited match practice but high expectations as he seeks a third U.S. Open title.
Alcaraz missed most of the clay-court season and was forced to sit out the French Open, Wimbledon and the North American hard-court swing because of the injury. He made his competitive return earlier this week, partnering with 23-time singles Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in mixed doubles.
"The first month was kind of difficult for me because I couldn't do anything with my right arm. It was tough," Alcaraz told reporters Friday.
"But at the same time, I enjoyed my time with family, friends and staying at home.
"But once I started to practice a little bit, I didn't know when I was going to start. Those thoughts are really difficult to deal with because I didn't know if I was going to be ready for Cincinnati, for the U.S. Open, or if I was going to miss the whole American swing.
"But finally, here we are. My goal was to try to be healthy as soon as possible and try not to miss more competitions. So I would say that intrusive thoughts were the most difficult things to deal with in this process."
The second seed opens his campaign against Russia's Roman Safiullin, ranked 98th in the world, and could face either Arthur Fils or Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals before a potential semifinal clash with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima.
The tournament will also be missing world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz's biggest rival, after the 25-year-old Italian withdrew with a persistent right knee injury.
"We are not going to see each other for about six months or seven months now. So it's kind of a weird situation," Alcaraz said. "I just wish him all the best. Hopefully a really great recovery and see him back on court at his best once again."
The U.S. Open men's and women's singles main draws get underway Sunday.
