Carlos Alcaraz remains sidelined by a right wrist injury that has kept the world No. 2 out of competition since April, causing withdrawals from the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Cincinnati Masters. The defending US Open champion is listed in the 2026 draw that begins August 30, with his team prioritizing full fitness for a New York return over additional hard-court warm-ups such as Winston-Salem. Recent light training footage has surfaced, yet analysts note the four-month absence leaves limited preparation time and raises questions about match readiness on the fast hard courts. Trader consensus at 68.5% for participation reflects Alcaraz’s strong incentive to defend his title alongside the entry-list confirmation, tempered by the injury timeline and absence of competitive matches.