Medvedev, former world tennis number 1, on Alcaraz at the US Open: “If he has a tough match, it will be interesting to see how he deals with it. We must not forget that, if he feels pain, he could retire at any time”

The return to the Carlos Alcaraz circuit has become the main topic of conversation among his rivals before the start of the US Open. One of them, the Russian Daniil Medvedev He assured this Friday, on the media day prior to the start of the tournament, that “it will be interesting” see how the Spaniard, back after four months due to his wrist injury, will react in a tough match.

“I think that if he is here and is going to try to play it means that he and his team are confident that the injury is not going to get worse. Because, in my opinion, whatever happened to his wrist, I don’t know exactly, it doesn’t matter if he plays two or five sets (…). If he is not fully recovered, he can reach 7-6 in the third set and it will probably hurt“Medvedev said.

“And I don’t think two extra sets are going to take a big toll on him physically, certainly, because he hasn’t played in a while, as far as his legs, glutes and things like that. But probably not so much on his wrist, because, if it’s something he’s already recovered from, I don’t think it will be a problem“he added.

“It’s more, like I say, a whole-body issue. If he has a tough game, it will be interesting to see how he handles it. We must not forget that, if you feel pain, you could withdraw at any time. For me it is very nice to see him here, playing. If I have the chance, I will definitely watch his game. Also, he plays against my friend Roman (Safiullin), so it will be interesting for me. I hope he doesn’t feel any pain and can play freely,” the Russian concluded.

The Murcian, who intends to win his third Grand Slam trophy, in New York, where he triumphed in 2022 and 2025, can distance himself from Jannik Sinnernumber one in the world and absent in New York, in major titles.

Alcaraz aims for his eighth Grand Slamthe second in 2026 after Australia last January. He has two in the United States, as many in Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The Murcian tennis player, 23 years old, He left behind the tenosynovitis that affected his right wrist at the time he announced his return to competition, which will occur in the individual draw of a tournament four and a half months later.

Alcaraz traveled to the United States with the firm intention of revalidating the title, which no one has achieved in the men’s category since 2008 when the Swiss Roger Federer scored his last success in Flushing Meadows after beating the British Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5 and 6-2. It was his fifth consecutive success in New York and he became, along with the Americans Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras, the one who has been crowned champion in this major the most times in the Open era, since 1968.

Samuel López’s pupil will try to do exactly what the Basel player was able to do, who won a major title on his return to the competition after a long absence. He was injured for six months. It was in 2017, when he returned victoriously after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee and won the title in another Grand Slam, that of Australia.

Furthermore, the one from El Palmar will seek his first treble in the same tournament, which has eluded him on several occasions. Dos entorchados has the current number 3 in the ATP ranking in seven of the championships that make up the circuit, specifically in three of the big four – Roland Garros (2024 and 2025), Wimbledon (2023 and 2024) and the US Open itself (2021 and 2025) – and also in the Madrid Masters 1,000 (2022 and 2023) and Indian Wells (2023 and 2024) and in the ATP 500 of Barcelona (2022 and 2023) and Queen’s (2023 and 2025) -.

Another added challenge that is posed to the Spaniard is to be the dominant player in the Grand Slams of this year, something that the German Alexander Zverev, winner at Roland Garros, would discuss, because the Italian Jannik Sinner, champion at Wimbledon, will not be in the United States Open due to the discomfort he has in his right knee.