Carlos Alcaraz is moving nearer to a comeback after nearly four months away from professional tennis because of a wrist injury, with reports linking him to a return at the Cincinnati Open.

The world No 3 last competed at the Barcelona Open, where he won his opening match before needing a medical timeout and later withdrawing from his next contest because of wrist discomfort. Since then, he has been following a careful recovery process and was recently observed striking balls lightly during an indoor practice session.

A new report from Spanish newspaper El Pais says the seven-time Grand Slam champion is set to switch to outdoor training in the coming days. That development matters, as the change in conditions adds another layer to his return to full preparation.

The same report added that Alcaraz has already received the official tennis balls for the Cincinnati Open, scheduled for August 13-23. He is the defending champion at the Ohio event and is protecting 1000 ranking points after lifting the trophy for the first time 12 months ago.

His absence has had a significant effect on the rankings. Alcaraz has already lost more than 5000 points and has been passed by Alexander Zverev for the first time since May 2025. Jannik Sinner now leads him by 5290 points after a run that included all three clay-court Masters 1000 titles and a successful Wimbledon title defence.

The latest update will be welcome news for Alcaraz supporters and strengthens the sense that his return may be approaching. A few days earlier, Javier Varela, writing for La Verdad, reported that the Spaniard is expecting to come back at the Cincinnati Open.

That report also said Alcaraz would view the tournament as a warm-up for the US Open, which takes place from August 30 to September 13. He is the defending champion in New York.

“The progress, however, is positive. Alcaraz is already hitting the ball, albeit still at a moderate intensity, and the goal is to gradually increase his training pace in the coming weeks,” the report said.

“The expectation is that he will be able to travel to the Cincinnati Masters 1000 with the intention of competing, although his participation is not guaranteed and, if he does play, he will not necessarily be at peak physical condition.”

Jannik Sinner has put together a remarkable opening stretch to the 2026 season, collecting five Masters titles and defending Wimbledon to secure his second straight crown there.

The world No. 1 has stayed well clear of the rest of the field and has kept his momentum during the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. Across the first seven months of the year, Sinner has been beaten only three times, with Novak Djokovic, Jakub Mensik, and Juan Manuel Cerundolo responsible for those losses.

Wimbledon delivered the fifth Grand Slam title of his career, and he now heads toward the US Open in September as the clear favourite to win a sixth major.

Even with the silverware already in his collection, Sinner says his biggest wish is to be remembered for more than results. Speaking to Secolo XIX, the World No 1 said: “We are obviously very happy to have successfully defended our title at Wimbledon. With my team, we are already preparing for the second part of the season, which promises to be very demanding.

“In ten years, I would like people to remember me not only for my results, but also for the person I have been and for the values that my parents instilled in me.

“And perhaps some will also remember me because they enjoyed watching my matches. When I play in Italy, I always feel immense support from the crowd. In return, I hope to be able to convey joy and positive energy.”

Sinner will not compete at the Canadian Open in early August, ending his chance to make more history in 2026. He had been on course to sweep all Masters events in the season, a feat no player has ever completed. So far, he has won Indian Wells, the Miami Open, the Monte Carlo Masters, the Madrid Open, and the Italian Open.

His withdrawal also means no ranking-point loss, since he did not play the event last year. He will keep all of his 13,450 ATP Tour points. Three Masters events remain on the calendar, with Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris still available before the season reaches its climax.

Jannik Sinner’s choice to skip the Canadian Open may look surprising at first glance, but the decision is rooted in caution and long-term planning.

In a statement, he explained: “After carefully considering all the factors together with my team, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from Montreal,” he wrote in a statement, after joining the likes of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz by not playing the tournament.

He continued: “It is never easy to miss such an important event, but we believe this is the right decision to prioritise my health,” he added. “I’m disappointed not to be there, but I look forward to returning to Montreal in the future.”

The Italian had the opportunity to extend his remarkable Masters run in 2026, having already captured the first five on the calendar this season. Even so, the withdrawal suggests health and recovery are taking precedence over another title chase.

That approach is easier to understand when set against what happened in Paris. Sinner’s early exit at Roland Garros came after a taxing stretch, and he later fell to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round, a loss that appeared tied to fatigue.

Before that setback, Sinner had powered through a punishing sequence to win Indian Wells, the Miami Open, the Monte Carlo Masters, the Madrid Open, and the Italian Open in succession. The demands of that run were visible, with his performances against Andrey Rublev in Monte Carlo and Daniil Medvedev at the Italian Open showing signs of wear.

By stepping away from Montreal, Sinner is also giving himself a better chance to focus on the Grand Slams, which remain the defining events of a career. He has won only one of the three Grand Slam titles in the 2026 season, and this move appears designed to improve his prospects at the US Open later this year.

After missing the Canadian Open, he is expected to line up at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, as he did last year. In 2025, he reached the final in both tournaments, though Alcaraz beat him on each occasion.