Carlos Alcaraz begins hard-court training, Cincinnati chances strengthen

The comeback tennis fans have eagerly awaited has reached another concrete step. Away from the courts since a wrist injury in April, Carlos Alcaraz has resumed outdoor training; this is seen as a reassuring sign that strengthens hopes of the Spaniard returning to action in time for Cincinnati.

The images shared were also encouraging. In footage published on social media on Friday, the Murcian is seen completing a full hitting session with no apparent wrist protection; this footage is said to show that his rehabilitation is progressing in the right direction.

This development is a concrete continuation of the earlier file. Following our report "Return after four months: Carlos Alcaraz's plan is Cincinnati," it is emphasised that this comeback comes just over two weeks before his hoped-for Cincinnati return.

The intensity of the training also drew attention. According to Puntodebreak, a notable increase in the intensity of his shots is visible in Alcaraz's latest training video, particularly with the right wrist he injured at the Conde de Godo tournament in Barcelona in April; the video shows him hitting twelve forehands, six of them topspin, at close to match speed, confirming that Alcaraz has entered the most challenging final phase of his recovery.

The next step has also become clear. According to El Pais, the next step is reported to be training on outdoor hard courts, where the Cincinnati Masters 1000 and the US Open will be played.

What the player has missed, and his targets, also underline the significance of this picture. Having missed key tournaments of the season including Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Madrid, Rome and Montreal due to injury, and having dropped to third in the world rankings with Alexander Zverev taking second, the Spaniard is recalled to be the defending champion at both Cincinnati (August 13-23) and the US Open (August 30-September 13), with his official return planned for August 11.

Image: Tennis365