Carlos Alcaraz's 2026 Season: Injury and Resilience

Alcaraz began the year with a noteworthy performance at the Australian Open, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. This victory marked his seventh career major and allowed him to complete a Career Grand Slam, making him the youngest male player to achieve this feat. Following the Australian Open win, he secured a title in Doha, maintaining a perfect 12-0 record to start the season.

His momentum continued during the Masters 1000 events, where he reached the semifinals at Indian Wells after defeating Cameron Norrie, before losing to Daniil Medvedev. However, he experienced an upset at the Miami Open, where, despite beating rising Brazilian João Fonseca, he was eliminated in the third round by Sebastian Korda. Nevertheless, Alcaraz held a solid 17-2 record leading into the clay court season.

In April, Alcaraz's fortunes changed when he had to withdraw from the Barcelona Open after winning his first-round match. He revealed he was suffering from a right wrist injury diagnosed as tenosynovitis, which is the inflammation of the tendon’s surrounding tissue. Shortly thereafter, he also withdrew from the Madrid Open to seek treatment, leading to his absence from significant tournaments, including the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Canadian Open, totaling over four months away from the ATP Tour.

Despite this setback, Alcaraz retained an impressive ranking and was still world No. 2 by August, just behind Jannik Sinner. The main concern was whether he could recover his top form on the court.

Alcaraz made his comeback at the US Open, entering the tournament as the defending champion. He won his first match in over four months against Roman Safiullin and progressed through subsequent rounds, defeating Jaime Faria, Wu Yibing, and Tommy Paul. His journey ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to eventual finalist Ben Shelton in what became the latest conclusion of a match in US Open history. Following his return, Alcaraz expressed concerns regarding the ATP Tour's demanding schedule, indicating he might need to take longer breaks in the future to manage his health.

Despite the lengthy absence, Alcaraz concluded the season with a singles record of 27-4, securing the world No. 3 ranking. He recently defended his title at the Japan Open, defeating Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final, marking his first title since his return from injury. His achievements this year include three titles and a major championship, maintaining one of the best records on tour despite missing approximately a third of the season.

With his victory in Tokyo, Alcaraz is poised for a strong finish to the season, with a legitimate chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking by year-end. He will head into the Shanghai Masters with renewed confidence as he seeks his first title in a draw that does not include world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.