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’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.

The Canadian Open has been handed a notably open feel after Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Masters event once more. Their withdrawals, alongside Carlos Alcaraz’s absence, leave the field lighter on marquee names as the North American hardcourt swing gets underway.

With only seven of the top 10 entered, the tournament now offers a genuine opening for contenders chasing a major title and 1000 ranking points. In that context, several players arrive with a clear chance to make the most of the draw.

Alexander Zverev stands out as the leading contender. He has been in strong form in the absence of Alcaraz, and with Sinner and Djokovic also missing, he looks the favourite for the title. Zverev won his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and reached the Wimbledon final for the first time in his career. He last won the Canadian Open in 2017, when he beat Roger Federer, Nick Kyrgios, and Gasquet, and another victory would also bring him closer to Sinner in the ATP rankings.

Felix Auger-Aliassime has not always produced his best tennis at this event, but this may be his best chance yet to win on home soil. He has reached the quarter-finals only once in seven appearances, yet his hardcourt pedigree is strong, and his US Open semi-final last year showed what he can do on the biggest stages.

Taylor Fritz also enters with expectations, even if recent results at Roland Garros and Wimbledon did not match them. He enjoyed a solid grass-court swing in Stuttgart and Halle, though the Canadian Open remains a place where he has already let a similar chance slip, falling in the semi-finals last year.

Ben Shelton returns as defending champion and carries obvious threat on hard courts. His power game suits the surface, and he has the chance to become the first player to win back-to-back Canadian Open titles since Rafael Nadal.

Arthur Fils, meanwhile, has given signs in 2026 that he can join the sport’s leading names. Since returning from injury in February, he has reached the Qatar Open final, won in Barcelona, and made Masters semi-finals in Miami and Madrid.