Carlos Alcaraz returns from injury at the 2026 U.S. Open for his first tennis tournament since April.
Alcaraz, back from a right wrist injury, is the defending champion and No. 2 seed in the men’s singles draw. The tournament starts Sunday and runs through Sept. 13.
How can I watch Carlos Alcaraz at the 2026 U.S. Open?
All of Carlos Alcaraz’s matches will air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and/or the ESPN app. So will his mixed doubles matches with teammate Serena Williams. That tournament is Tuesday and Wednesday.
The full U.S. Open broadcast schedule is here.
When does Carlos Alcaraz play at the U.S. Open?
Alcaraz will play his first-round singles match on Sunday, Aug. 30 or Monday, Aug. 31 or Tuesday, Sept. 1.
He will play an unseeded opponent in the first round — a player ranked outside the top 30 and possibly a wild card entry or a player who advances out of this week’s qualifying.
Alcaraz would not play a seeded foe until the third round at the earliest. He wouldn’t play No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany until the final, but he could play No. 4 Novak Djokovic as early as the semifinals.
Alcaraz’s schedule, first opponent and path to a potential repeat title will be known after the draw is released on Thursday.
What is Carlos Alcaraz’s injury?
Alcaraz withdrew during the Barcelona Open in April with a right wrist injury and missed four months of tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon, before returning at the U.S. Open.
Alcaraz’s return coincides with rival and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner being sidelined by a right knee injury, missing the U.S. Open. Alcaraz beat Sinner in the 2025 U.S. Open final 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Alcaraz is bidding to become the first man to repeat as U.S. Open champion since Roger Federer won five in a row from 2004-08.
