Andy Roddick Would Be ‘Surprised’ If Carlos Alcaraz Plays at US Open After Cincinnati Withdrawal

Andy Roddick doesn’t think it would be a great thing if Carlos Alcaraz plays at the US Open without some match practice. Alcaraz withdrew from the ongoing Canadian Open and will also not be in Cincinnati for the seventh Masters 1000 of the season.

The reigning champion in the Ohio city received a walkover from arch-rival Jannik Sinner last year. The reason behind his withdrawal is the wrist injury that has kept him on the sidelines since the Barcelona Open.

It’s just when you’re taking your time, and you’ve been so diligent about being safe and not being irresponsible, that risk comes back, all of a sudden he’s in a five-setter in the first round of the US Open. That would be counter to everything that he has done so far with taking his time and being patient with his injury.

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

Many former players have advised him not to rush his comeback because wrist injuries have derailed the careers of high-profile players, such as Juan Martin del Potro and Dominic Thiem. Alcaraz, however, has not revealed anything about the injury, but because he missed both the French Open and Wimbledon, it’s considered serious.

I think I’d be surprised if he just rocked up and played the US Open now. Again, I have no information right or maybe it’s just I’m close, but let’s be extra cautious, and I will be ready to go at the US Open. That’s certainly an option also, and I hope that’s I would love nothing more than to be dead wrong on this thing. It’s just outside looking in in a perfect scenario. You want to go kick some rust off and kind of see where you’re at.

Andy Roddick added

Before the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz played the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters, but he couldn’t defend his title, losing the match to Sinner. Alcaraz also lost his No.1 ranking after his failed title defense.

Injury expert Stephen Smith on Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open return

Carlos Alcaraz has been pretty careful when it comes to nursing his wrist injury. Which is why, like Andy Roddick, injury expert Stephen Smith also said he would be surprised if, after being so patient, he ends up returning to the tour at the US Open.

Given how patient they’ve been, I would be shocked to see him at the US Open. If you’re taking that patient approach and you’re progressively building, why throw somebody back into the hardest thing they might do all year?

Stephen Smith told Tennis365

Alcaraz has taken home two titles so far this season. He first won the Australian Open by beating Novak Djokovic, which made him the youngest man in the Open Era to reach the Career Grand Slam milestone. The 23-year-old next won the Qatar Open by beating Arthur Fils.

Alcaraz is the reigning champion at the US Open, defeating Jannik Sinner in last year’s final. Sinner, like the Spaniard, also withdrew from both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters. He wanted to play in Cincinnati, but a knee injury forced him to skip.

Sinner has won the most titles on the men’s tour this season. After losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open, he completed the Sunshine Double before claiming titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.

The win in his home event made him the second man after Djokovic to complete the Career Golden Masters. Following his shock second-round defeat at the French Open, he skipped the warm-up events before Wimbledon, where he beat Alexander Zverev in the final.

Also read: Elena Rybakina Makes Feelings Clear on No.1 Ranking Goal After Aryna Sabalenka’s Canadian Open Exit