Carlos Alcaraz WDs from Cincinnati Open, delays return again from wrist injury ahead of US Open

Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Clive Brunskill via Getty ImagesCarlos Alcaraz still isn’t ready to return from his lingering wrist injury.

>Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday, ending hopes that he’d be ready to make his return to the sport after missing both the French Open and Wimbledon already this season. His status for the US Open later this month is still very much up in the air.

“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” Cincinnati Open tournament director Bob Moran said in a statement. “We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in teh future.”

Alcaraz has been dealing with tenosynovitis in his wrist, which is the inflammation of the connective tissue that protects tendons, per the Cleveland Clinic. That can make it painful and difficult to move joints.

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>As a result, Alcaraz has missed both Wimbledon and the French Open this season. Top-ranked Jannik Sinner won Wimbledon last month with Alcaraz sidelined. He hasn’t played since initially suffering the injury back at the Barcelona Open in April.

>Alcaraz had been listed in the field at the Cincinnati Open for weeks now, and his wrist was reportedly “healthy” and “completely healed.” It’s unclear if he suffered a setback in recent weeks, or what led to his withdrawal.

>Alcaraz, listed at No. 2 in the world, has won seven grand slam titles in his career. His last one came when he beat Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January. He’s won the US Open twice, including last year, too.

>But now with Alcaraz not playing in the Cincinnati Open, which is considered one of the premier hardcourt tournaments in the lead-up to the US Open, his status for the final grand slam of the season is very much in doubt. If Alcaraz can return in time for the event, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 30, he’d undoubtedly be considered a favorite alongside Sinner.

>For now, the tennis world will just have to keep waiting.