Key to Alcaraz’s return to the US Open, he triumphed a year after his serious injury

It was a decisive week of work in the Real Sociedad Country Club Murcia. From the same generation, they shared intense hours of training and also confidences about their future after long-term injuries. His was even greater than that of Carlos Alcarazwho almost five months later decided to return at the US Open.

The sets and rehearsal matches with the Dane Holger Rune They consolidated the general idea of ​​Alcaraz and his technical team that the time had come to return, even if it was directly in a Grand Slam, with best-of-five-set matches.

Alcaraz was not that far from defending the crown in New York. He fell in the quarterfinals, but after a long battle with the American Ben Shelton, in a historic match because it ended at 03:33 in the local morning.

Carlos Alcaraz, smiling, saying goodbye to the US Open, at dawnAdam Hunger / Ap-LaPresse

He was not wrong Alcarazwho said that “I leave with a smile and healthy. Those were the objectives.” The elimination did not prevent him from positively analyzing the level he had given in four games after so much time in the dry dock.

HILLEROED (Denmark), 09/18/2026.- Denmark's Holger Rune after winning his match during the Davis Cup match between Denmark and Bulgaria in Hilleroed, Denmark, 18 September 2026. (Tennis, Denmark) EFE/EPA/Sebastian Elias Uth DENMARK OUT
Holger Rune, triumphant return in the Davis Cup leading Denmark’s classification against BulgariaSebastian Elias Uth / EFE

Holger Rune He has been off for almost a year. After several comeback announcements, which fell apart because a ruptured Achilles tendon is very serious for a tennis player, the Nordic player immediately announced his withdrawal from the US Open, focusing on the Davis Cupwhere he returned supported by his people and with great success.

Unprecedented since October 2025, it helped Denmark beat Bulgaria 3-2 in World Group I, clinging to the elite. In his debut he beat Iliyan Radulov by 6-3 and 6-3. His victory over Grigor Dimitrov3-6, 6-3 and 7-6 (4), which kept alive a team that finished with Elmer Moeller beating Radulov 6-2 and 6-4.

A joy for Holger Runewhich has seen its ranking drop to 144th place. You can enter tournaments with protected classification or through invitations, which will not be lacking. The climb began in Hillerod, although it did not give ATP points.