Carlos Alcaraz appears to be stepping up his practice sessions ahead of the US Open, but the defending champion has been warned against rushing his comeback to play in New York.
The Spaniard has not played a competitive match since sustaining a serious wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April and he was forced to pull out of this week’s Cincinnati Masters after admitting he was not ready to return.
Social media platforms have been filled with images of Alcaraz striking the ball with increased intensity, but a return at the US Open would be a big risk as he would be playing best-of-five-set tennis in his first match in his comeback.
Now former British No 1 Greg Rusedski has warned Alcaraz will be taking a big risk if he plays in New York, as he suggests a lower-key comeback may be advisable.
“I think it’s a big risk. I think you’ve got to come out of a two-out-of-three-set match to start because it’s one thing to practice, it’s another thing to play a match,” said Rusedski on the next edition of his podcast, which will be released on Monday.
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“The adrenaline in the body, going hell for leather, you always go up with your tennis about an extra five, ten per cent from what you do in practice, no matter how hard you train.
“Plus, there’s the nerves and the expectation. You’re not gonna bounce back and come in with a three-out-of-five set match. I would be shocked if he plays the US Open. To me, he had to play Cincinnati to have a chance to go to the Open.
“So I would be surprised. After the US Open, I think possibly we might see him back, or maybe not even till next year.
“He’s not going to make the mistake with his risk. He doesn’t want to risk it. So I don’t see him still playing at the US Open, even though we’re seeing a lot of progress in his comeback.”
Rusedski also believes there is some doubt over whether Jannik Sinner will play at the US Open, after the Italian pulled out of the Cincinnati Masters with a knee problem.
“Well, if he’s not in New York early in the week before the tournament starts, I don’t see him playing,” he added.
“That leaves it wide open. It actually makes it rather exciting. Who’s gonna win the Slam this year? (Alexander) Zverev has the French. Sinner has Wimbledon and we could have a fourth. Four different men’s winning a slam if Sinner and Alcaraz don’t show up, or you could have Zverev, like London buses, win two in a year.
“So it just makes everything intriguing. And we won’t know more until the week before the US Open with Sinner, because he’s desperate to get in there and try to win another Slam.
“But health is your wealth, and these guys have to take the time. It just shows you how physical the tour is. Because Sinner looked like the guy who’s never going to break down, and he’s the one who’s having a knee problem now.
“I just want to stop talking about injuries. Come on. Let’s stop the injuries. Let’s all get healthy. Let’s get everybody back on board.”
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