Carlos Alcaraz Looks Ahead After Late US Open Exit
Carlos Alcaraz addressed a late US Open finish, Jannik Sinner's absence and his return with Team Europe at the Laver Cup.
A difficult return ends with a smile
Carlos Alcaraz left the US Open after a five-set quarterfinal loss to Ben Shelton, which ended at 3.34am. The match came in his first tournament after more than five months away with a wrist injury that caused daily pain. He still smiled afterward.
That reaction reflected what the return meant to him after missing the chance to defend his French Open title and sitting out Wimbledon. Alcaraz was unsure he could play in New York until the week before the event began. The No. 2 player has gone 8-2 across his last 10 completed matches, while No. 6 Shelton is 6-4 over the same span.
The schedule remains his concern
The finish against Shelton set the latest end time in US Open history, and Alcaraz wants the schedule changed. He said an earlier start would have given more fans the chance to watch a full stadium rather than leaving them with a match that ran into the early hours. His view was simple.
He suggested an 11pm limit as a more reasonable target for the tournament. Late sessions were not limited to his quarterfinal, as Alexander Zverev completed three of his first five matches after 1am and Venus Williams finished her opener at 2am. Long nights have become a physical issue for players already managing injuries through the season.
Sinner's absence is felt
Away from his own return, Alcaraz spoke about missing Jannik Sinner at the US Open because of the Italian's knee injury. Sinner is No. 1 and has a 9-1 record in his last 10 completed matches. Their rivalry has been interrupted by the injuries affecting both players.
They met once this season, with Sinner winning the Monte Carlo Masters final to take the top ranking. Across the previous two seasons, the pair split all eight Grand Slam titles. Alcaraz said he expects their future meetings to draw attention, and he plans to skip some tournaments to protect his physical and mental health.
Laver Cup comes next
London comes next. Alcaraz will represent Team Europe at the Laver Cup from September 25-27, with Yannick Noah leading Europe against a United States team captained by Andre Agassi. The team format gives him a quick shift after the individual pressure of New York.
He described playing alongside leading peers as unfamiliar but enjoyable, with teammates adding another source of energy around each match. Alcaraz said players compete as if everything depends on the result, which helps explain the event's intensity for those on court. This appearance gives his return another test before the season moves on.
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