Carlos Alcaraz has answered growing doubts over his US Open singles status by revealing that he is scheduled to practice on Thursday at Flushing Meadows.

The defending champion in New York has not played a competitive singles match since the wrist injury he suffered at the Barcelona Open last April. That setback led him to withdraw from the French Open and Wimbledon, and he later had to scrap plans for a comeback appearance at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month.

Concern around his readiness has persisted because several observers have questioned whether his first match back should come in a best-of-five-set Grand Slam. Former US Open champion Andy Roddick and 1997 finalist Greg Rusedski have both pointed to the risks involved, while former British No 1 Laura Robson said it “would be difficult” for him to make a Grand Slam event his return.

Alcaraz is already in New York and featured in the mixed doubles event with fellow legend Serena Williams on Tuesday. But the outing also fueled fresh uncertainty, with his service speeds below the level he would want and his forehand misfiring at times. He has also lost heavily in practice sets in front of crowds this week, and when he did not reserve court time on Wednesday, speculation intensified that a decision on the singles draw might be near.

Thursday’s practice schedule lists him for 12 noon local time, the same time as the draw. It remains possible that he is still weighing his options and may use more practice before making a final call. Even so, any delay would not be without consequence, since his place at the top of the draw could leave the top half of the event unbalanced if he ultimately does not play.

Stan Wawrinka has issued a measured and emotional response after being left without a wildcard for the US Open, a decision that effectively ends his Grand Slam career.

The three-time major winner is set to finish his playing days on home soil at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in October, bringing down the curtain on a distinguished career that included his final Grand Slam triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2016. That title followed earlier successes at the 2015 French Open and the 2014 Australian Open.

Because of his ranking at the time of the 2026 US Open entry-list cutoff, Wawrinka needed a wildcard to reach the main draw directly. He had already received wildcards this year for the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but US Open organisers did not extend the same opportunity in New York.

The choice has drawn criticism from many tennis fans, particularly because Wawrinka is a former champion and is in the final season of his career.

Rather than dwell on the omission, Wawrinka used Instagram to look back on the relationship he built with the city and the tournament over many years. His message underlined how far he has come since first arriving in New York from Switzerland.

“When I first arrived in New York from a small farming village in Switzerland, everything felt too big. The city. The noise. The energy. The crowds. The lights,” Wawrinka wrote.

He added that the experience of competing there became central to some of the most powerful moments of his career, finishing with gratitude for the tournament and the supporters who followed him through the years.

“Winning the US Open, in the city that never sleeps, will forever be one of the greatest moments of my life.”

“Thank you, New York. Thank you, @usopen. Thank you to every single fan who supported me, pushed me, believed in me and shared all these emotions with me over the years.

“Forever grateful. Forever New York.”

Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, makes a surprise cameo in the trailer for Meghan Markle’s holiday special “With Love, Meghan,” which will air next month on Netflix. The appearance was revealed in promotional material released this week.

A press release says Osaka will be joined by Harry, the Duke of Sussex; celebrity chef Tom Colicchio; restaurateur Will Guidara; and the duchess’ close friends Kelly Zajfen and Lindsay Roth to “deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs” with the former actress. The trailer places Osaka among a group of well-known figures assembled to bring seasonal cheer.

Osaka has crossed paths with the Sussexes before. In 2020 she appeared on an episode of Harry and Meghan’s short-lived “Archwell Audio” podcast, where she reflected on her US Open win that season and on finding a greater sense of gratitude through the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic. That prior conversation underscored a shared interest in public discussion of life beyond professional pursuits.

Mental health has been a recurring theme for both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and for Osaka. In 2021, Osaka wrote a personal essay for TIME magazine that described the Duchess reaching out to support her during what the piece called a highly-publicized mental-health break from the sport. The Netflix special’s promotional language and the roster of participants suggest a program that blends personal moments, cooking and gifting with lighthearted company.

The trailer offers a short glimpse of Osaka in a noncompetitive role, adding an athletic voice to a holiday-format special built around hospitality and friendship. With a mix of celebrities, chefs and close friends involved, the program positions itself as a seasonal variety of conversation, cooking and goodwill.