As
Wimbledon continues without
Carlos Alcaraz, attention is already shifting toward the Spaniard’s anticipated return later this summer, with a leaked
US Open outfit generating early discussion among fans.
The world No. 2 has been sidelined since April due to a wrist injury and is not competing at the All England Club, where he was a two-time champion in recent seasons. His absence has altered the dynamics of the grass-court swing, with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic leading the field in London.
According to reports circulating on social media, a fan account on X (formerly Twitter) published what appears to be Alcaraz’s planned kit for the 2026
US Open, where he is expected to defend his title in New York.
The design shows a dark green tank top with red and black detailing, a noticeable shift from last year’s colour scheme, which featured pink for day sessions and purple for night matches at Flushing Meadows.
Recovery timeline and US Open focus
Alcaraz’s absence from Wimbledon is part of a broader recovery process following inflammation in his wrist tendons, an issue that has required extended rest and immobilisation. While he has avoided surgery, the Spaniard has taken a conservative approach to ensure long-term fitness.
The injury initially forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open in April, which subsequently led him to decide to skip the entire clay and grass court season, accumulating three months of absence. His current focus remains the North American hard court swing, with the US Open scheduled from August 30 to September 13.
Although no official return date has been confirmed, Alcaraz could use at least one warm-up event before arriving in New York. The Canadian Open (starting 3 August) and Cincinnati Open (10 August) remain the most likely preparation tournaments, following a similar schedule to previous seasons.
Ranking implications and historical context
Alcaraz remains ranked world No. 2, though his position could come under pressure depending on results at Wimbledon, where Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner are competing for seeding advantages in the latter stages of the tournament.
Despite his absence, the Spaniard’s status at the top of the men’s game remains secure, built on a strong 2024–2025 period that included several titles: US Open and Japan Open at the end of the 2025 season, as well as a final at the ATP Finals, and he began 2026 with a title at the Australian Open – where he completed the Career Grand Slam – and the Qatar Open.
However, he remains a long distance behind Jannik Sinner, and with several points to defend in the closing part of the season, it will be especially difficult for Alcaraz to climb positions in the rankings upon his return, and he will have to focus on staying in the top zone to finish the year without Sinner pulling further away at the top. Currently, more than 3,500 points separate him from the Italian, who continues his campaign at Wimbledon after reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz – US Open 2025 Title Run
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1R | Reilly Opelka | 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 |
| 2R | Mattia Bellucci | 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 |
| 3R | Luciano Darderi | 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 |
| 4R | Arthur Rinderknech | 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| QF | Jiří Lehečka | 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 |
| SF | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 |
| F | Jannik Sinner | 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 |