“I don’t need to play many tournaments”: Carlos Alcaraz explains his new approach after four-month injury absence

Saturday, 05 September 2026 at 09:30

Carlos Alcaraz has returned to competitive tennis after more than four months away and already looks like a player who has lost very little of his level. The Spaniard has reached the fourth round of the US Open without dropping a set, extending his winning streak at the tournament to 10 matches.

Alcaraz has beaten Roman Safiullin, Jaime Faria and Yibing Wu in straight sets, improving his 2026 record to 24-3. More importantly, the wrist injury that forced him out of action has not appeared to limit his movement or level during his first three matches back.

The injury interrupted his clay-court season in Barcelona in April, forcing him to miss the rest of the clay and grass seasons, including Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He did not return to competitive action until arriving in New York, making the US Open his first tournament in more than four months.

That extended absence has also changed how Alcaraz thinks about his schedule. Speaking in his post-match press conference after beating Wu, the Spaniard explained why he does not want to simply return to playing week after week.

Alcaraz wants to play less

Alcaraz was asked about managing his schedule after his latest injury and made it clear that his priority is no longer playing as many tournaments as possible.

Having completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in January, he now wants to protect the physical and mental freshness. “I don't need to play many tournaments," the 7-time Grand Slam champion said. "I just want to be mentally and physically healthy when I'm playing tournaments, when I'm playing Grand Slams, Masters 1000s."

"I want to have the breaks that I need to prepare the tournaments, to have the time to prepare the tournaments, to miss the tennis, to miss the tour, to miss you guys. I think that's really important.”

That last phrase is particularly revealing. After being forced away from tennis for more than four months, Alcaraz has come to appreciate the value of stepping away from the sport rather than constantly moving from one tournament to the next.

“Sometimes when you are playing week after week, you lose the joy of playing tennis. So I think for me it's really important to have the breaks that I need, to prepare the tournaments and to have the time to enjoy tennis again.”

“I want to miss the tennis”

Alcaraz also admitted that following tennis from home during his injury was difficult, despite initially trying to distance himself from the sport. With tennis such a major part of his family life, completely switching off was never realistic.

“I tried to watch as little as possible, but it was impossible. I mean, tennis is a huge passion in my family," he added. "My father, my brothers, everybody is watching tennis. So I was following the results, watching some matches, commenting with my family. It was good for me to have information about tennis, but it was a shame not to be there.”

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Now back on court, however, Alcaraz does not appear interested in making up for the tournaments he missed by overloading his schedule. His first three matches in New York have instead provided an encouraging indication that he can return immediately to the highest level.

He has not dropped a set against Safiullin, Faria or Wu and has looked increasingly comfortable with every match. Alcaraz himself admitted after beating Wu that his level has been better than he expected before arriving in New York. “It's difficult to compare, honestly," Alcaraz said. "I think I'm feeling better and better."

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"I'm feeling more comfortable physically, I'm recovering well, which was the most important thing for me. I think I'm playing good tennis. I'm feeling really, really good. I mean, better than I thought before coming here.”

After completing the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open and then losing more than four months to injury, Alcaraz has returned with a different perspective. Rather than trying to play everything, he wants enough time away to prepare properly, stay healthy and, perhaps most importantly, miss the tennis when he is not playing it.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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