Andy Roddick believes that Carlos Alcaraz’s decision to play at the US Open suggests there will be next to no chance of him worsening his wrist injury.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined with this wrist problem since mid-April, and due to his lack of matches, few predicted he would be fit for the final Grand Slam of the year.

After withdrawing from the Cincinnati Masters, Alcaraz shocked just about everybody when he tweeted on Thursday, “Here we go!”, alongside an American flag emoji.

Many have felt that playing best-of-five-set tennis in his first tournament back is a big risk for the seven-time major winner. But former world No 1 Roddick feels that as he is making that choice, his team must be confident he won’t suffer a setback in New York.

The former US Open champion revelled in the impending return of tennis’ “most exciting player”, while suggesting that Alcaraz should play in the mixed doubles event beforehand.

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He said on the latest episode of Served, “[This is a] Good day for tennis. I am so happily surprised and my suspicions are wrong and I’m thrilled about it. Tennis’ most exciting player.

“We don’t know what we’re going to get. A lot of the time he pulls shots out of nowhere. I think for him to play this, I have to think the risk of further injury is next to nothing. It seems like he’s happy to accept that.

“Hey, listen, maybe my legs will be tired. Maybe I haven’t played any match reps. I might lose first or second round. I might get [Botic] van de Zandschulp’d (who beat Alcaraz in straight sets at the 2024 US Open).

“This is such a win for tennis. I think he should play mixed doubles if his risk is okay.”

Roddick predicted that if Alcaraz did play in the US Open mixed doubles, which runs from 24-26 August, he would partner up with 23-time major winner Serena Williams. He is not on the entry list but it would not be a surprise to see him called in as a late entrant.

Moreover, the American said it would be a “nightmare” if both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who pulled out of Cincinnati with a knee issue, didn’t compete at the US Open, which runs from 30 August to 13 September.

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