What's next for Carlos Alcaraz after US Open 2026 exit?
(Courtesy : X/@carlosalcaraz)
After missing four months of tennis action due to a wrist injury he sustained during the Barcelona Open in April, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz made an impressive comeback by reaching the US Open 2026 quarter-finals. He did so without any match practice or game time, which is a testament to his class.
The Spaniard looked the part early on. Four rounds down, he had dropped just a solitary set, including a routine win over 20th seed Tommy Paul in round four. Then came Ben Shelton of the USA in the quarters, and that was a different challenge altogether.
Shelton’s serve and forehand gave Alcaraz problems, and by the end of the third set, the Spaniard wasn’t quite right physically, as he appeared exhausted and ill. He dragged it to a fifth set anyway, only to lose in the tiebreaker after nearly four and a half hours.
What next for Carlos Alcaraz after US Open 2026?
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Next up for Alcaraz is the ATP-500 Tokyo Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion features in the entry list for the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, which will be held from September 30 to October 6. The Spaniard will be the top seed and will be joined by Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Rafael Jodar, Lorenzo Musetti, Brandon Nakashima, Jiri Lehecka and Casper Ruud.
Related: Records Ben Shelton set with five-setter win over Carlos Alcaraz
Before Tokyo, though, the Laver Cup takes place in London. Alcaraz is committed to Team Europe for the Laver Cup, held from September 25-27, alongside Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Jakub Mensik, Rafael Jodar and Casper Ruud.
That is a brutal turnaround on paper. The Laver Cup wraps up on the 27th, and Tokyo starts three days later. Having already spoken against the hectic schedule and the need to prioritise rest and recovery, even if it means missing events, Alcaraz is highly unlikely to feature in both events.
With no ranking points on offer at the Laver Cup, the 23-year-old Spaniard could head straight to Tokyo, where he is also the defending champion.
What is Carlos Alcaraz’s current singles ranking?
Carlos Alcaraz is currently ranked this in the ATP Singles Rankings.
How many ATP singles titles has Carlos Alcaraz won?
Carlos Alcaraz has won 26 ATP singles titles to date.
Which tournament is Carlos Alcaraz playing next?
Next up for Alcaraz is the ATP-500 Tokyo Open starting September 30.
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