Carlos Alcaraz is making progress in his recovery, but reports from Spain say his work on court remains at a very low intensity.

The seven-time major winner started 2026 in exceptional form. He completed the career Grand Slam at 22 after lifting the Australian Open trophy, then added the Qatar Open title in dominant fashion. His momentum changed, though, when he failed to win any of the first three Masters events of the season, in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo. Shortly after that, a wrist injury forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open in mid-April.

The setback kept the 23-year-old out of the French Open and Wimbledon, raising concerns that his season could be in danger of ending early. Those worries grew further when training footage showed him using an unstrung, broken racket while still wearing a wrist brace, prompting former British No 1 Greg Rusedski to say he was “deeply concerned”.

There has also been a different view. Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci said Alcaraz’s wrist is at 100%, that he has played “many matches with other pros” and that he has turned the situation into a positive.

But a report from Clay Tenis presents a far more cautious picture. In a piece titled ‘Carlos Alcaraz ‘s strangest and freest summer’, Nacho Encabo describes the contrast between injury frustration and the lift of watching Spain beat Argentina 1-0 and win the 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium.

According to that report, Alcaraz has played no sets, no matches, “nothing of the sort”. His recovery is said to be “on track”, but he is not expected to rush back and risk the rest of the season.

He is scheduled to return at the Cincinnati Masters, held from 13-23 August, though questions remain over whether he will actually play. Clay also reported that he has not been able to hit a ball with complete freedom, even in private practice, since the injury.

Sources close to Alcaraz allegedly say, “Carlos is training, but still at a very low intensity.”

Alex Eala is attracting attention for more than her results, with her profile growing both on court and away from it.

The 21-year-old is coming off the biggest breakthrough of her career at Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round and beat defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets on the way there. That run has only intensified the interest around her, especially in her native Philippines, where support for her remains intense.

During her Wimbledon campaign, thousands of fans filled stadiums for watch-along parties, underlining how widely followed she already is at home. That support is now spreading beyond the Philippines and into the wider Asian tennis scene.

Before her scheduled appearance at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington next week, Eala posted a message on Instagram marking the end of her Manila visit. She wrote, “That’s a wrap on Manila.

“Maraming salamat sa pagtanggap sa akin mga kababayan (Thank you for giving me a warm welcome, fellow Filipinos)! Each and every one of your stories has touched me on a profound level.

“I leave with a refreshed memory of what I carry when I’m out there playing tennis. And wow is it a privilege to be part of something bigger than myself. Never been prouder to represent home.”

Since arriving in the United States, Eala has also appeared in a glamour shoot with Metro Magazine. An extract from the accompanying piece described how she handles fans even when she is tired or not feeling particularly sociable, noting that she is fully aware of the effort supporters make to follow her.

The story also drew praise for her fashion choices. On the Instagram post, Coco Gauff commented, “Gorgeous”, while Eva Lys wrote, “Just died”. The post was also liked by Chris Eubanks and Victoria Mboko.

Eala, who is now ranked a career-high 28, will hope to carry that momentum into Washington. For her, every serve and rally will again be followed closely by a fan base that continues to grow.

The Washington Open launches the 2026 North American hard-court swing, but the women’s event has already been shaped by several notable withdrawals.

The WTA 500 tournament in Washington will be played at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, beginning on Monday 27 July and finishing on Sunday 2 August. The women’s main draw at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, the event’s sponsorship name, includes 28 players.

Leylah Fernandez returns as the defending women’s singles champion in the U.S. Capital after beating Anna Kalinskaya in the 2025 final.

The original women’s entry list included eight players ranked inside the WTA top 20, but three of them have now withdrawn. Marta Kostyuk, Jasmine Paolini and Iva Jovic, who would have been seeded third, fifth and sixth, are all out of the tournament.

Paolini has explained her decision as a response to a foot injury, and she will also miss the WTA 1000 event in Toronto. On Instagram, Paolini wrote: “Unfortunately, I’ve decided to withdraw from Washington and Toronto so I can give my foot some extra time to rest.

“I’m sorry I won’t be there, and I wish everyone involved two amazing tournaments. Thank you, as always, for all your love and support.”

Paolini, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon earlier this month.

Katerina Siniakova and Jaqueline Cristian are the other players to withdraw from the field.

Even with the absences, five top 20 players remain in the Washington line-up. The projected top eight seeds are Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, Naomi Osaka, Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya, Madison Keys, Leylah Fernandez and Emma Navarro.