Why did Carlos Alcaraz withdraw from the Cincinnati Open?

Alcaraz withdrew due to a persistent wrist injury that has been bothering him since April 2026.

Will Alcaraz play in the 2026 US Open?

His participation in the US Open, which starts on August 30, 2026, is currently uncertain as he hasn't played any warm-up tournaments.

Who won the Cincinnati Open last year?

Carlos Alcaraz won the title in 2025 after Jannik Sinner retired from the final.

Which tournaments has Alcaraz missed this season?

Due to the wrist injury, he has missed the Barcelona Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and now the Cincinnati Open.

Tennis

Alcaraz Withdraws from Cincinnati Title Defense

T.E. · Prije 2h | 2 min

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open due to a persistent wrist injury, casting a shadow over his preparations for the US Open.

Summary

Carlos Alcaraz (23) has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to a persistent wrist injury.
The Spaniard hasn't played since April 2026, missing Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
His participation in the US Open (starting August 30) is now in doubt.
Tournament director Bob Moran said Alcaraz is 'doing everything he can' to return.

Cincinnati Open organizers announced on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, that defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the tournament. The reason is a persistent wrist injury that has been troubling the 23-year-old Spaniard since April this year.

Alcaraz has not competed since his withdrawal from the Barcelona Open in April 2026. Due to the same injury, he missed the opportunity to defend his title at Roland Garros and also skipped Wimbledon. His return at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati was supposed to be a key part of his preparations for defending his US Open title.

Tournament Director: "We Know He's Giving It His All"

Tournament director Bob Moran expressed support for the Spanish tennis player in an official statement. "We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible," Moran said, as reported by Reuters. In a statement to BBC Sport, he added: "We wish him all the best in his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future."

Last year's Cincinnati Open final, which Alcaraz won in 2025, was marked by world number one Jannik Sinner's retirement. This year's edition of the tournament in Ohio, USA, is scheduled from August 13 to 23, although BBC Sport lists August 11 as the start date.

Uncertainty Ahead of the US Open

Alcaraz's withdrawal raises questions about his readiness for the final Grand Slam of the season. The US Open begins on August 30, 2026, and without any warm-up matches on hard courts, the Spaniard will arrive in New York with a significant lack of competitive rhythm.

There is also a discrepancy among sources regarding Alcaraz's current ranking. While Channel News Asia lists him as world number three, BBC Sport places him at number two on the ATP rankings. Regardless of his exact position, his absence from the Cincinnati tournament is a significant blow to the draw and the competition ahead of the US Open.