Carlos Alcaraz returns to the US Open with questions swirling about his serve and recovery. After four and a half months out with a right wrist injury, he faces Yibing Wu in the third round, a match that could define his title defense.
The match will start after the women’s contest between Pegula and Fernández wraps up. Wu, ranked 113th, made the basic draw after a series of late withdrawals. At 26, he knows these courts well: he won both singles and doubles junior titles in New York back in 2017 and once topped the junior rankings.
Reuters reported that Alcaraz missed Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as the summer hard-court swing, because of right wrist tenosynovitis. He returned to singles only at the US Open.
Alcaraz’s comeback has been anything but smooth. His serve, still not fully reliable after the injury, has drawn attention. Still, he’s shown progress with each match. He beat Roman Safiullin and Jaime Faria to reach this stage, mixing his usual aggressive play with jokes about golf swings between points. Now, his ability to adjust after injury faces a real test.
Wu comes in with little to lose and some history with Alcaraz. They last met two years ago in Shanghai, where Alcaraz won in the third round. Wu’s path here shows how unpredictable Grand Slam draws can be, especially when late withdrawals give lower-ranked players a shot.
For Alcaraz, the stakes are clear. He’s defending his US Open title and trying to prove his recovery is complete, especially when it comes to his serve. Each match has been closely watched for signs of vulnerability or improvement. As reported earlier, his return has already included moments of both.
Information from ESPN and Reuters, Alcaraz hit more than 20 forehand winners in his opening match, a promising sign for his form and wrist health. The Athletic notes that fellow players expected a quick return to form, but the right wrist remains the most closely watched aspect of his game this tournament.
The bigger picture matters, too. The men’s field is wide open this year, with several top players missing or struggling. Wu’s spot in the third round, thanks to the unusual entry list, adds another twist. For many watching, today’s match is less about rankings and more about whether Alcaraz’s serve can hold up under pressure.
How Alcaraz plays today will say a lot about his readiness after injury. If his serve keeps improving, he’s still a threat in the draw. If old problems return, his title defense could end early. The result will shape his US Open run and the rest of his season. In a tournament full of uncertainty, Alcaraz’s serve is the real question mark.
