Carlos Alcaraz will miss the grass-court season after picking up a wrist injury during the Barcelona Open in April.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played a match in 60 days and isn’t expected to return until the US hard-court swing begins.
Fans haven’t been given many updates on his recovery, as Alcaraz looks to build his way back to full fitness in private.
Is it time to start panicking about Carlos Alcaraz?
He's out of another Grand Slam…
However, new footage has now emerged which leads us to believe the world number two is on the right track.
Carlos Alcaraz seen running without a wrist brace in video posted by his physical trainer
Alcaraz’s physical trainer, Alberto Lledo Quiles, posted a video of them running together on Instagram.
The Spaniard was seen without a wrist brace, indicating his recovery is going well.
Alcaraz had been wearing a brace since suffering the injury in Barcelona.
To see Alcaraz take the next step in his recovery would suggest he may not be too far away from returning.
Many fans were surprised to see him withdraw from Wimbledon as early as he did, but the decision could prove to be a masterstroke.
Choosing not to rush back for the grass-court season, Alcaraz can focus on his fitness, making sure his wrist is 100% before he travels to the United States.
And he will need to be at his best in America, if he wants any chance of finishing the year as world number one…
Alexander Zverev could overtake Carlos Alcaraz in the world rankings
Alcaraz will have his eyes on the world number one ranking, but may need to look over his shoulder, too.
The 23-year-old currently sits second, but the world number three, Alexander Zverev, has now accumulated more points than him this year, following his French Open victory.
Live ATP Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 13,500 |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 9,960 |
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 7,190 |
| 4 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 4,390 |
| 5 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 3,995 |
| 6 | Ben Shelton | USA | 3,870 |
| 7 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 3,760 |
| 8 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia | 3,760 |
| 9 | Taylor Fritz | USA | 3,570 |
| 10 | Flavio Cobolli | Italy | 3,540 |
Live ATP Race to Turin
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 5,950 |
| 2 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 5,040 |
| 3 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 3,650 |
| 4 | Flavio Cobolli | Italy | 2,620 |
| 5 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia | 2,270 |
| 6 | Arthur Fils | France | 1,890 |
| 7 | Jakub Mensik | Czechia | 1,855 |
| 8 | Ben Shelton | USA | 1,730 |
| 9 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 1,715 |
| 10 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 1,715 |
Missing Queen’s and Wimbledon, Alcaraz will drop 1,800 points over the coming weeks, leaving Zverev in striking distance.
Alcaraz won’t have much time to get up to speed in America, either, having won the Cincinnati Open and US Open 12 months ago.
The Spaniard will travel to the United States ready to play his first tournament in months, knowing he must defend 3,000 points.
He could, however, choose to return in Montreal at the Canadian Open instead, an event he hasn’t attended in several years.
Doing so would give him a chance to pick up some much-needed ranking points and help him build match sharpness ahead of his title defences in Cincinnati and New York.
Alcaraz will need to be near-perfect when he returns if he is to stand any chance of finishing 2026 as the world number one ahead of Zverev and Jannik Sinner.
But near-perfect is the standard for Alcaraz, so you wouldn’t want to bet against him!
The 2026 Canadian Open begins on August 1.
