Carlos Alcaraz has taken a major step toward his long-awaited return from injury, giving tennis fans fresh hope with an encouraging update on his recovery.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined since mid-April after suffering a serious wrist injury, but his latest training footage shows him striking the ball with far greater power during competitive rallies using his injured right hand.
It marks one of the clearest signs yet that the Spaniard is edging closer to making his comeback.
Alcaraz’s 2026 season has unfolded far differently than many expected. After becoming the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam with his Australian Open triumph, he followed up by winning the Qatar Open before enduring a frustrating Sunshine Double, failing to reach the final at either ATP Masters 1000 event.
His only defeat to longtime rival Jannik Sinner this season came in the Monte Carlo Masters final, but an even bigger setback soon followed.
During his opening match at the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz felt a sharp pain in his right wrist. Although he battled through to win, he later withdrew from the tournament and was ruled out for the remainder of the clay season, including his title defences at both the Italian Open and Roland Garros.
His absence extended through the entire grass-court swing, raising concerns over the severity of the injury. Even with the North American hard-court season underway, the World No. 3 has yet to return to competitive action.
Recovery gathers momentum
Throughout his rehabilitation, Alcaraz has regularly shared updates with fans on social media.
His recovery began with fitness work that avoided any racket activity before he gradually started hitting balls with his left hand. He later progressed to gently striking the ball with his right hand against a wall, carefully rebuilding strength in the injured wrist.
While attending the World Cup final—where Spain lifted the trophy—fans noticed Alcaraz wearing a wrist support, fuelling speculation that his return was still some way off.
However, his latest 30-second training video has dramatically boosted optimism.
The footage shows the Spaniard moving freely around the court and hitting with significantly more pace and confidence than in previous updates. The clip quickly attracted widespread support from fans eager to see one of tennis’ biggest stars back competing at the highest level.
Huge ranking points at stake
Time is becoming an important factor for Alcaraz.
After indicating he would skip the Canadian Open, attention now turns to the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, where he is defending champion.
The US Open is expected to be his main target, although his level of match fitness will ultimately determine how deep he can go if he returns in time.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner enters the North American swing as the overwhelming favourite after finishing runner-up to Alcaraz at both events last season.
If Alcaraz is unable to defend his titles, he stands to lose a massive 3,000 ATP ranking points, potentially causing him to slide further down the rankings depending on the performances of those behind him.
However, if he can return fully fit and rediscover his best tennis, few would bet against the Spaniard successfully defending his crowns. When healthy, Alcaraz remains one of the most dangerous and dynamic players on the ATP Tour.
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