A former coach of Serena Williams has offered a calm assessment of Carlos Alcaraz’s situation, insisting there is no cause for alarm during the Spaniard’s spell away from competition.

Some expected Alcaraz to return at the Cincinnati Open, which begins on 13 August, but his withdrawal from the Masters 1000 event was confirmed earlier this week. The 23-year-old has not appeared on tour since injuring his right wrist at the Barcelona Open almost four months ago.

That absence has also left open the question of whether he will be ready to defend his title at the 2026 US Open. A return from a lengthy injury break at a Grand Slam can be difficult, and the timeline remains uncertain.

Rick Macci, who has coached five players who went on to become world No 1, said he is not concerned by the latest setback. He made his view clear on his X/Twitter account, writing, “Everything with the Spanish Magician will be fine and is fine,” Macci wrote on his X/Twitter account.

He added, “His team knows best and that is more practice, recovery and rest. He will 100% know when he feels ready for pure combat and get knocked down and get off the mat.

“When he feels mentally he can win it, he will be in it. This is no red flag from the doctors bag.

“Being patient smart and wise is how gets back on track to win the prize. Carlos will play when he [is] 100[%] ready to run, sweat, rip and be steady.”

Macci expanded on that stance in an exclusive interview with Tennis365 last month, when he said Alcaraz “will not change anything” because of the injury and called the seven-time major winner “the best role model” for young players.

“He’s the Spanish magician, he holds the racket like a paintbrush, and he does a lot of interesting things with his hands and wrist,” the American said.

“And we could say this and that [about his technique and playing style], but listen, that’s his DNA. He’s an artist, he’s a virtuoso.

“This is how he plays — from the heart and from the soul. He’s not gonna change anything, and hopefully this will not be a big thing because let’s face it, his charisma, and his spirit… he is must-see TV.

“And he is the best role model for every junior tennis player; if you want to really see how good you can become, you can’t be afraid to fail when you’re a kid, and you’ve got to develop a complete game.”

Gael Monfils used his final Canadian Open appearance to answer critics in his own words, after another emotional stop on his farewell season.

The 39-year-old Frenchman announced in October last year that 2026 would be his final season on tour. In Montreal, he began with a 6-4, 6-4 opening-round win over Kamil Majchrzak, his first match since his last-ever Roland Garros defeat to Hugo Gaston in May. That victory was followed by a second-round exit, as Learner Tien beat him 3-6, 6-0, 3-6.

The Canadian Open has long been one of Monfils’ strongest events at Masters level. It is the tournament where he has recorded his best return in terms of matches won, with 25, and his best win percentage. He reached the semi-finals in Toronto in 2016 and in Montreal in 2019.

After his run in Montreal ended, Monfils posted a lengthy message on Instagram reflecting on the tournament, the crowd, and the reaction to his final months on tour. He reserved one section for those questioning his place in the game, writing: “the ones who keep explaining to me that it’s over.”

In the same note, Monfils thanked the tournament and the fans, and praised Tien after their match. He also made clear that he intends to finish his career on his own terms. As he wrote, “I’m not asking anyone’s permission to enjoy the last few months of a career I built myself.”

Monfils, whose career began in 2004, has remained one of the ATP Tour’s most popular figures thanks to his style and personality. He also reminded readers of the length of his career, saying: “I’ve played it with love for 36 years, 22 of them as a professional, and I’m going to leave it with love.”

His Canadian farewell closed with appreciation for the event and its supporters, and with a final thank you to Tennis Canada.

The 2026 Cincinnati Open is approaching fast, but the entry lists have already been hit hard. With the tournament set to begin in less than a week, withdrawals across both draws have reached 11.

Main draw play in Cincinnati runs from Thursday, 13 August to Sunday, 23 August at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. The event is the second joint ATP/WTA 1000 stop on the North American hard-court swing, coming after the Canadian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz and Ig Swiatek were the men’s and women’s singles champions in Cincinnati in 2025. Alcaraz, however, will not be back to defend his title. The world No 2 is among six men who have pulled out of the Masters event, and he has not competed since April because of a right wrist injury.

Holger Rune is also absent after once again delaying his return from the Achilles injury he suffered in October last year. Jasmine Paolini, who reached the final in Cincinnati last year before finishing runner-up to Swiatek, will likewise miss the tournament. She also skipped the Canadian Open.

In a post on Instagram, the two-time Grand Slam finalist wrote: “We’ve decided that I won’t be in Cincinnati either,” Paolini began her statement on Instagram.

“After last year’s final, I was really looking forward to being back, but now the focus is on 100% being ready for the US Open and the rest of the season. Thank you for your support.”

The ATP withdrawal list also includes Alexander Bublik, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Sebastian Korda and Ethan Quinn. On the WTA side, Victoria Mboko, Hailey Baptiste, Jacqueline Cristian and Emma Raducanu have also withdrawn.

Each absence has triggered a replacement, with the updated lists now featuring fresh names across both fields as Cincinnati moves closer to the start of play.