{"id":2099454,"date":"2026-08-18T18:30:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2099454"},"modified":"2026-08-18T18:30:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:30:50","slug":"carlos-alcaraz-could-stage-a-very-public-us-open-fitness-test-as-he-is-set-for-final-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2099454","title":{"rendered":"Carlos Alcaraz could stage a very public US Open fitness test as he is set for final decision"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Carlos Alcaraz could stage a very public US Open fitness test as he is set for final decision<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/kevin-palmer\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Kevin Palmer                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"18 Aug 2026 7:30 PM\" data-ps-date=\"18 Aug 2026 7:30 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1787077850\"><br \/>\n                            18 Aug 2026 7:30 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                    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data-title=\"Carlos Alcaraz could stage a very public US Open fitness test as he is set for final decision\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Carlos-Alcaraz-laughing-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Carlos Alcaraz laughing\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Carlos Alcaraz laughing                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> could be set to make an appearance at the US Open after all, even though most tennis observers believe he will not make the final Grand Slam of 2026 his comeback event after a long spell off court with injury.<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz has not played since damaging his wrist at the Barcelona Open in April, with his swift decision to pull out of the French Open and Wimbledon highlighting the severity of the injury.<\/p>\n<p>The defending US Open champion has been stepping up his preparations for a return to action in recent days and he staged a high-profile hitting session with Holger Rune earlier this week that created a stir on social media when footage was released.<\/p>\n<p>Rune is also on the way back to full fitness after rupturing his Achilles tendon last November and he is another big name weighing up whether to try and play at the US Open.<\/p>\n<p>What may be more realistic for both Alcaraz and Rune may be an appearance in the mixed doubles event that will be staged next week, prior to the main draw getting underway in New York on Sunday, August 30th.<\/p>\n<h2>More Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/carlos-alcaraz-confirmed-to-miss-another-2026-tournament\">Carlos Alcaraz confirmed to miss another 2026 tournament with his replacement already named<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/carlos-alcaraz-usopen-warning-wrist-injury\">Carlos Alcaraz sent big warning as he weighs up \u2018risky\u2019 US Open decision<\/a><\/p>\n<p>While Alcaraz and Rune are not currently on the entry list for the high-profile mixed doubles event, they could play in what will be a lower-intensity setting to assess whether they are ready to play at the US Open.<\/p>\n<p>It would be a major risk for both Alcaraz and Rune to return to best-of-five-set tennis at a Grand Slam after so long away from the court, but they could give their sponsors plenty of exposure by making high-profile comebacks in New York in the mixed doubles.<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz played with Britain\u2019s Emma Raducanu last year, while Rune played with America\u2019s Amanda Anisimova in last year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n<p>Both of those mixed doubles matches were over in double quick time, so the event could provide a platform for Alcaraz and Rune to make gentle returns to action in front of big crowds.<\/p>\n<p>Reports suggest Alcaraz and Rune may be able to play in the mixed doubles with a wildcard later this month, with USTA chiefs leaving the door open for their return.<\/p>\n<p>Alcaraz is clearly tempted to try and play at the US Open, despite pulling out of this week\u2019s Cincinnati Open, but former British No 1 Greg Rusedski has warned him against a hasty comeback.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can count the US Open out now. There is no way he\u2019s gonna play in the US Open if he\u2019s missing Cincinnati,\u201d <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8Ko9aFmTvsw&amp;t=18s\">said Rusedski on the latest edition of his podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was questioning where he was at a bit when we saw him hitting with juniors, but it looked pretty good with the movement, the strike, the new hairdo. Everything was looking good. Then we get this news.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf this was just a little bit of inflammation, a little problem, he would be back by now. It\u2019s something a little bit more serious. We don\u2019t know if he\u2019s had a tear, whether it\u2019s something more, whether he\u2019s had a little bit of surgery in there. Who knows what\u2019s happened?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd the only people who know are Carlos Alcaraz and the rest of his team. But this is taking a lot longer than we thought.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think take as long as you need to, even if he misses the rest of the year and then starts up again in 2027.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s a big risk to play at the US Open. I think you\u2019ve got to come out of a two-out-of-three-set match to start because it\u2019s one thing to practice, it\u2019s another thing to play a match.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe adrenaline in the body, going hell for leather, you always go up with your tennis about an extra five, ten per cent from what you do in practice, no matter how hard you train.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlus, there\u2019s the nerves and the expectation. You\u2019re not gonna bounce back and come in with a three-out-of-five set match. I would be shocked if he plays the US Open. To me, he had to play Cincinnati to have a chance to go to the Open.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I would be surprised. After the US Open, I think possibly we might see him back, or maybe not even till next year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s not going to make the mistake with his risk. He doesn\u2019t want to risk it. So I don\u2019t see him still playing at the US Open, even though we\u2019re seeing a lot of progress in his comeback.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/carlos-alcaraz-injury-good-sign-leading-expert-exclusive\">Carlos Alcaraz\u2019s lengthy injury absence could be a \u2018good sign\u2019, according to leading expert<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carlos Alcaraz could stage a very public US Open fitness test as he is set for final decision Kevin Palmer 18 Aug 2026 7:30 PM Carlos Alcaraz laughing Carlos Alcaraz could be set to make an appearance at the US Open after all, even though most tennis observers believe he will not make the final [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2099454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2099454"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099454\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2099454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2099454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2099454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}