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.

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.

The Blackout 300 v2 is a focused update that smooths and stabilizes Solinco’s power-oriented design without dulling its bite. The head is filled with a PU-density foam called Foam Tech Core to reduce vibration and sharpen impact feel, while a new Arch-2 Construction carbon fiber layup stiffens the frame’s composure at higher ball speeds. The frame also adopts a Tiger Camo paint job inspired by gaming skins. Returning elements include 40T Carbon Fiber, Liquid Crystal Technology and the Weight Control Module with interchangeable 5-gram and 10-gram butt-cap plates to dial weight and balance.

Construction changes yield a more dependable, player-friendly experience. A reduction in frame stiffness tempers peak power, so serves and groundstrokes require a touch more effort to reach top velocity, but the tradeoff is greater command and fewer runaway errors. There remains a healthy energy transfer into shots, yet the overall package encourages controlled aggression. “Power? Yep. Spin? Yep. Easy to pick up and play? Yep. An excellent stick—right down to the paint job.”Tester Comment

Foam injected throughout the thicker beam gives the Blackout a richer sound and a more connected feel at impact, a treatment more commonly found in thinner, control-oriented models like Solinco’s Whiteout. That internal damping, combined with the softer flex, raises comfort and helps address arm-abuse concerns while preserving a firm playing character. Despite the foam, static weight, swingweight and balance remain essentially unchanged, and the racquet keeps a relatively head-light balance that aids defense and quick reactions.

The open 16×19 pattern pairs well with a shaped poly such as Solinco’s Hyper-G, making spin generation straightforward. Arch-2 Construction improves steadiness on heavy incoming balls, helping returns sit up with pace and direction rather than buckling. The Bryan Brothers endorse the Blackout v2. Net play benefits from the frame’s stability and ability to redirect pace, while delicate slices and low mid-court chops reveal minor limitations in producing very fine touch.