Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback at the US Open will carry more than just competitive weight. The wrist injury he sustained at the Barcelona Open took way longer than expected to heal. It resulted in him missing out on several important tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon. After four months away recovering from injury, the two‑time US Open champion admitted he had missed every detail of the sport, from the roar of the crowd to the smallest rituals on court.

“Absolutely, after a couple of months recovering from my injury, I miss everything,” Alcaraz said in an on‑court interview. “I miss this place, I miss the crowd, I miss the ball kids. I think I couldn’t have started at a better place than here, so I feel very grateful. I’m just happy.”

Alcaraz knows the importance of the US Open. This is a tournament he won last year and in 2022. While it wasn’t an easy decision for him to return, he didn’t want to miss a third consecutive Grand Slam.

“Yeah, I mean, it is a very special tournament for me. It is a Grand Slam, best of five, so, as I said, after more than four months, coming back at a Grand Slam was not an easy decision, but I just tried to put everything to be ready for this tournament,” he added.

Alongside his much-awaited return in singles, the limelight will be on the mixed doubles event as he has formed a pair with none other than Serena Williams. They received one of eight wildcards, with first‑round opponents to be determined in the August 24 qualifiers.

Last year, Alcaraz teamed with Emma Raducanu but lost in the opening round against Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper. This time, partnering with Serena makes the pairing one of the tournament’s headline attractions.

While the doubles will mark his return to Tennis, his main focus will be on singles. The World No. 3 will be under pressure as he prepares for his first singles clash since April, and the US Open can have serious implications for his ranking points.

Ranking Pressure for Carlos Alcaraz Ahead of US Open

Having won the US Open last year, he risks losing 2,000 ranking points if eliminated early. A first‑round exit would drop his tally from 7,160 to 5,160, leaving him only 520 points ahead of World No. 4 Felix Auger‑Aliassime.

With Jannik Sinner not competing, Alcaraz will enter the singles as the second‑highest‑ranked player behind Alexander Zverev. Despite the layoff, his caliber means he remains a serious contender, and the US Open could define his season’s trajectory.

Along with all the anticipation around his on-court return, his fans across the globe will be waiting for the tournament to kick off. And now, after his comments, the ball boys will surely wait for his return at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.