"I don’t think he would have allowed him to take this sort of risk" - Greg Rusedski believes Carlos Alcaraz former coach would have sided against US Open return

The news if official: Carlos Alcaraz will be returning to tennis at the US Open. Whether it is the correct decision is not so clear yet with many tennis fans questioning if it is a hasty or rushed one. Former British number one Greg Rusedski believed that if he had his former coach with him, Juan Carlos Ferrero, he would have stopped him from competing.

The pair were a brilliant duo as Ferrero continued to oversee the development and progress of his young Spanish prodigy. They began working together when Alcaraz was 15 and soon built up a very special relationship.

The accolades reeled in were among the best the sport could offer as Alcaraz cemented his name as one of the best players in the world, and a future great. The end of 2025 changed everything, In a stunning twist of events, the pair split up abruptly, sending the tennis world into frenzy.

Alcaraz reacted to this in the most positive of manners as he won the Australian Open, his seventh major title, while competing the career Grand Slam in the progress, becoming the youngest player to do so.

However, 2026 would have a truly nasty surprise waiting for him. His season stalled slightly after losing to his main rival Jannik Sinner in the Monte-Carlo Masters final. He made the trip back on home soil at the Barcelona Open where he was forced to withdraw due to a wrist injury.

The severity of it was soon made very clear, and the results were disastrous. He did not feature in any of the clay or grass tournaments while also missing the majority of the North American hardcourt swing. Fans would wait and wait for that moment where he would announce his return, and it finally came with the US Open title defence the target.

After spending over four months on the sidelines, returning to tennis in one of the biggest events on the planet in a best-of-five format is not for the faint hearted. Alcaraz opted for making this decision to travel to New York, excited by the prospect of delivering again at Flushing Meadows.

A sense of caution has been cast over him by many with some not sure he is 100% ready for this exhilarating venture. Rusedski was one of them who was very against this return to the sport.

He stated his argument on his Off Court podcast. “I think it’s a huge risk," he said. "I would be very surprised if he plays in the singles. You know, that’s why I think the relationship might have split with Juan Carlos Ferrero because I don’t think he would have allowed him to take this sort of risk if he’s not 100% right.”

What has been a boost following his announcement was the fact that World No.1 Sinner has been forced to withdraw due to a right knee injury. This has blown the whole field wide open with a number of names having a solid argument of winning the title. Alcaraz is one of them and when at his best will be the absolute favourite, but that is a huge mystery yet to be resolved.

On the Sinner absence, Rusedski stressed that this was not part of Alcaraz's thinking. “I don’t think he’s thinking about Jannik Sinner being injured because that would make no sense whatsoever. Because health is your wealth. He’s so young. He’s got at least another decade plus if he can stay healthy. So, it’s not because Sinner’s out that he’s rushing to come back.”

The decision has been made, and it is a hugely positive one for tennis. The US Open will commence from August 30 - September 13 with the best players in the world competing for the fourth and final Grand Slam title of 2026.