Ben Shelton’s run in Cincinnati ended before it ever found momentum, as the American fell in straight sets to Jaime Faria in the second round. The defeat came only days after Shelton had wrapped up the Canadian Open title in Montreal for the second year in a row, a result that had underlined just how sharp his form had been entering the North American hardcourt swing.

That Montreal victory was built on a clean, dominant week. Shelton beat Brandon Nakashima, Learner Tien, Jakub Mensik, and Joao Fonseca on his way to the Masters crown, and he did so without dropping a set. Against that backdrop, his quick exit in Cincinnati stood out as one of the more unexpected results of the week.

It also renewed attention on a long-running issue around ATP Tour scheduling. The back-to-back placement of the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open continues to place players in an awkward position, particularly after deep runs the previous week. Shelton’s loss marked the fourth time in five years that the reigning Canadian Open champion has gone out in the opening match at Cincinnati.

The pattern has been clear across recent seasons: Pablo Carreno Busta exited in the opening round in 2022, Jannik Sinner did the same in 2023, Alexei Popyrin followed in 2024, and Shelton reached the quarter-finals in 2025 before his 2026 first-round disappointment. The sequence has only strengthened the argument that the schedule leaves little room for recovery between two demanding Masters events.

With the calendar becoming increasingly crowded, and with two-week Masters formats adding to the strain, strong performances in both tournaments have become even harder to sustain. Rafael Nadal remains the last player to win both events, doing so in 2013. Before that, only Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Pat Rafter, Eddie Dibbs, and Cliff Richey achieved the same feat.

For that reason, the call is simple: if the ATP Tour wants to give top players a fair chance to compete in both tournaments, it needs to place a week between them. Without that break, the North American hardcourt swing risks producing more withdrawals, more frustration, and more results like Shelton’s in Cincinnati.

Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback schedule is still unsettled, even with his name on the US Open entry list.

The world No. 3 is racing the clock to recover from the wrist injury he picked up at the Barcelona Open, and his fitness remains the central issue ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season. He was supposed to appear at the Cincinnati Open before heading to New York, but he was not ready in time for that event.

Although he has been training at a high intensity in the build-up to Flushing Meadows, there is still a possibility that he will miss the US Open because he has not yet reached full fitness.

According to MARCA, Alcaraz “will reappear at the Laver Cup if he doesn’t play at the US Open”, though he has not withdrawn from the Grand Slam. That tournament is scheduled for September 25-27, which would extend his absence from competition by around three more weeks.

He is already confirmed to miss Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Chile, with the squad already chosen, making the Laver Cup the next possible event on his calendar. Alcaraz has been a regular presence at the competition for Team Europe, having played in the last two editions before 2026.

His record at the event includes a Team Europe title in 2024, when he beat Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz in singles. Team World turned the tables in 2025 in San Francisco, with Fritz gaining revenge by defeating the Spaniard in straight sets.

This year’s Laver Cup will be staged in London at the O2 Arena, and Alcaraz has made clear how much he values the event. Speaking last year, he said: “I will try to bring positive energy to the team. I want to help Team Europe defend the Laver Cup.

“I love that tournament, and being teammates with players who are usually rivals is something very special. I will give my best, and I’m very excited about the event.”

Team Europe will also include Rafael Jodar, Jakub Mensik, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Flavio Cobolli, with Yannick Noah and Tim Henman leading the side. Team World, coached by Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter, will feature Shelton, Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Bublik, Learner Tien, and Tommy Paul.

Carlos Alcaraz’s spell on the sidelines has now stretched to five months after the wrist injury he picked up at the Barcelona Open in April.

That setback has already ruled him out of Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and Masters events in Madrid, Rome, Montreal, and Cincinnati. He remains listed for the US Open, where he has targeted his comeback, but another absence is now confirmed for September.

Alcaraz will not be available for Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Chile, which takes place away from home on 19 and 20 September. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will also miss the clay-court contest, though Spain captain David Ferrer has still named a competitive squad for the trip to South America.

Spain’s team features Rafael Jódar, Daniel Mérida, Jaume Munar, Martín Landaluce, and Pedro Martínez. Jódar, who has taken the ATP Tour by storm in 2026, is the headline name in the group.

Spain reached last year’s Davis Cup final without Alcaraz, so the team is no stranger to competing without its leading figure. Even so, his record in the event has been strong since his debut in 2022.

Alcaraz has won six Davis Cup matches for Spain, across singles and debuts. His most recent appearance came in the 2024 Davis Cup Finals quarter-finals, when Spain lost to the Netherlands. He beat Tallon Griekspoor in that tie, while he and Marcel Granollers were defeated in doubles by Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp.

The Davis Cup remains one of the few major prizes missing from Alcaraz’s resume, which is why a return for the Finals later in the year would not be a surprise if Spain reaches Bologna. Earlier this season, after completing the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, he made clear how much the competition still means to him.

“The Davis Cup, it is a goal as well. I really wanted to achieve that for my country, for Spain,” said the seven-time Grand Slam champion. “I set up some other goals for the season, and I will try to be ready for, or to try to get those goals.”