Carlos Alcaraz returns after four months: "I feel 100 percent"

Carlos Alcaraz is ready to return to the courts. The Spaniard, who has not played a singles match for more than four months due to a right wrist injury, stated today (Friday) that he feels "100 percent" ahead of the start of the US Open, where he will try to defend his title.

23-year-old Alcaraz has not played in singles since April 16, when he withdrew from the Barcelona tournament due to the injury and subsequently missed Roland Garros and Wimbledon. This week he already returned to activity when he partnered with Serena Williams in the mixed doubles tournament of the US Open, but the return to singles matches still raises concerns for him.

"I need to get here and practice with these players to feel the competition again, and it's a real test. I feel great, and it helped me a lot to understand that now everything is in my head," Alcaraz said.

The Spaniard, who became in January the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam by winning all four tournaments, admitted that the long period out left him with some fear regarding his wrist. "I have to trust my people who tell me that everything will be fine. I just have to go for it 100 percent and try to move away from that fear."

Someone who might meet Alcaraz in the semifinals is Novak Djokovic, who also arrives in New York with question marks regarding his physical condition. The 39-year-old Serbian, who is chasing his 25th career Grand Slam title, stopped a practice session this week against Zizou Bergs after only three games, with the heavy heat likely being the reason for this rather than an injury.

Djokovic already suffered from the conditions earlier this month in Cincinnati and even needed medical treatment during his loss to Thiago Agustin Tirante.

"It's a health issue that I have. It has been bothering me for a few years. I have many problems, especially when there is high humidity and heat," he explained then.