Carlos Alcaraz has made clear that he intends to return at the US Open, even as several of the sport’s biggest voices have urged caution after his wrist injury. The Spaniard has not played a competitive match since hurting his wrist at the Barcelona Open in April, and his decision to target New York has already sparked debate.

Andy Roddick and Greg Rusedski are among those who have questioned the wisdom of coming back in a best-of-five-set Grand Slam so soon. Alcaraz had already withdrawn from this week’s Cincinnati Open after admitting that his wrist had not fully healed, but he has since confirmed that he will play the US Open mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams. He has also suggested that he will enter the singles draw as well.

Rusedski, the 1997 US Open runner-up, said he was baffled by the plan. “Why would you start back with a wrist injury in three out of five sets?” asked Rusedski on the latest edition of his podcast.

He added: “Maybe he’s thinking three out of five sets, I can win him in straight sets, I can build myself up, I got a day off in between every match, but I think it’s a huge risk. I would be very surprised if he plays in the singles.

“I hope he’s able to play the US Open, but I’m not sure this is the smartest thing, unless it’s just a publicity stunt and he’s just gonna play in the mixed doubles and then not even play the singles. Who knows? We don’t know until he shows up in the blocks for the opening first round match in New York what’s gonna happen.”

Alcaraz’s decision comes shortly after Jannik Sinner confirmed he will miss the final Grand Slam of 2026 to protect his long-term health. The contrast between the two leading men has been hard to ignore.

If Alcaraz does compete in singles and comes through the event with another US Open title, the choice will be vindicated. If not, the questions about whether he returned too soon will only grow louder.

Fourteen of the 16 teams for the 2026 US Open mixed doubles have now been set, with Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams among the newest pairings confirmed.

After last year’s revamped format delivered strong interest, US Open organisers have kept the competition on the same schedule, placing it before the singles main draw. The winning team will again play for $1,000,000, and the draw has already attracted attention through several headline pairings.

Last year’s field included Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud, Emma Raducanu with Carlos Alcaraz, Jessica Pegula with Jack Draper, and Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz. That approach created plenty of buzz during Fan Week, though the title ultimately went to the doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who defended their crown.

For 2026, Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic are expected to be the top seeds based on combined singles rankings. Pegula and Fritz will team up after Draper’s injury rules him out, while Rybakina’s own fitness remains uncertain after she picked up an injury before the tournament.

Swiatek and Ruud are back after finishing runner-up in 2025, while Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, have also formed new combinations. Diana Shnaider is listed as a confirmed entrant, although her partner has not yet been named.

Among the wildcard teams, Errani and Vavassori will try to win a third straight title in New York. Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime also stand out, and Auger-Aliassime said: “It’s a great opportunity because obviously I didn’t play last year, but this time around to kind of feel what it’s like to have the Eala effect and fan base behind me,” and “It’s going to be it’s going to be funny because she’s younger than me, but she has a fan base, right? Like she’s carrying the crowd. So, it’s going to be interesting.”

Two more places will be decided through qualifying on 24 August, with the mixed doubles event scheduled for 25-26 August at Flushing Meadows.

Aryna Sabalenka opens as the bookmakers’ pick for the 2026 US Open, yet her recent results have left her looking a step below the very best of the current form charts heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.

At Flushing Meadows, the world No 1 has built a formidable record. Over the last three years she is 19-1 in New York and has lifted back-to-back titles, with her only defeat in that span coming in the 2023 final against Coco Gauff. Even so, her latest run of form has been uneven. Sabalenka has fallen in the round of 16 at her last three events, at Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati, and she has not looked fully in rhythm.

That said, her ceiling remains as high as anyone’s on hard courts. In March, she won both Indian Wells and Miami, becoming only the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double. Her four Grand Slam titles have all come on hard courts, including two Australian Open crowns and two US Open triumphs, and she also owns three runner-up finishes at majors on the surface.

The main concern is confidence, which can be decisive at this level.

Elena Rybakina moved higher among the leading contenders after finishing runner-up in Canada, but fitness remains a question after she was forced to retire against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati, saying she could barely walk.

Jessica Pegula has been one of the steadiest players in recent weeks and will meet Coco Gauff in the Cincinnati final, while Gauff herself arrives in strong form after reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon and Toronto.

Swiatek responded to her Wimbledon disappointment with a title in Canada, though her Cincinnati loss to Pegula will still lead to a ranking drop.

Among the outsiders, Naomi Osaka is trending upward again after returning to 13th in the rankings, while Alex Eala continues to make progress after her DC Open breakthrough and strong runs in Toronto and Cincinnati.