Jo Konta raises two questions about Carlos Alcaraz ahead of his singles comeback at the US Open
Carlos Alcaraz will have a lot of eyes on him as he makes his singles comeback at the US Open this year.
Alcaraz has not played a singles match since the Barcelona Open in April, having been out of action since then with a right wrist injury.
However, the Spaniard recently made his return to the match court, with Alcaraz teaming up alongside Serena Williams as part of the US Open mixed doubles tournament.
Alcaraz continues to practice ahead of the US Open singles tournament, and former world number four Johanna Konta has a couple of questions ahead of his comeback.
Jo Konta ‘not too worried’ about Carlos Alcaraz showing up at the US Open
Alcaraz is a seven-time Grand Slam champion, but even for a player of his talent there are a lot of questions going into his singles return, particularly as he will be playing best-of-five set matches at the US Open.
Two of these questions were raised by Konta, despite admitting that she was not too worried about him showing up.
How far do you think Carlos Alcaraz will go at the US Open after four months out injured? 🤕
“What’s happening with Alcaraz is that I get the feeling he plays without inhibitions,” Konta told Eurosport. “And by that I mean we’re talking about a player who’s on his way to challenging the greats in terms of numbers and achievements, especially considering his age and where he is in his career.
“However, when he’s on the court, he plays with so much joy and, from an outsider’s perspective, with an enormous sense of freedom. That’s why I sincerely believe he may have come simply because he loves to play and wants to play.
“Does it really matter if he can’t yet show his best form? Does it really matter? I think he has a very healthy perspective on where he is in his career and how much time he has left. I don’t get the sense that he feels pressured to reach certain milestones or to prove a certain level.
“Honestly, I think he’s simply happy and eager to get back. And that’s why he wants to play: because he feels ready. And why not? That’s how I see it. And every time I’ve seen him on the court, he conveys exactly that to me: someone who plays without any constraints.”
Konta continued, “I think there are several factors. One of them will be seeing how he responds physically in competition. I have no doubt that, in training and throughout the preparation process, he will have reached the necessary physical parameters to be able to come and compete. However, we all know that it’s impossible to completely replicate what happens in a real match: the tension, the nerves, the stress.
“Now, I think that the enjoyment he feels at being back will probably act as a kind of buffer when he has to readjust to that demanding environment. So it will be interesting to see how he handles all of that.
“Furthermore, he’s had surgery. And that raises questions not only for the US Open, but also for the coming months and even next year: how will his body respond to the demands of competing at the highest level week after week?
“How will he look physically? How will he look mentally? I’m not too worried about him showing up with those little lapses or moments of doubt, because I think his physical capabilities and everything he can do on the court already set him apart from the rest. That gives him some leeway to allow for a few lapses in concentration.
“So yes, I think there are two issues. What we’ll see here and now, and what we’ll see for the rest of the season and throughout next year. It will be very interesting.”
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What is Carlos Alcaraz’s earliest ever loss at the US Open?
Alcaraz will be making his sixth main draw appearance at the US Open this year, where he is a two-time champion.
This includes winning his second title last year, after Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in the US Open final.
Alcaraz has the opportunity to make history at the US Open this year, as he attempts to become the first man to defend his title at the New York major since Roger Federer in 2008.
However, Alcaraz also faces the pressure of trying to avoid suffering an early defeat, just like he did at the US Open in 2024.
As the third seed, Alcaraz was the big favourite in his match against Botic Van de Zandschulp, but was stunned after being beaten in straight sets by the unseeded Dutchman.
This is the only time Alcaraz has been unable to reach at least the quarter-finals at the US Open, and he will be hoping this remains the case, with this year’s tournament getting underway on Sunday, August 30.
