Carlos Alcaraz is set to return to London for the Laver Cup when he represents Team Europe at The O2 from 25 to 27 September, following a wrist injury that kept him away from the tour for more than five months.
The Spaniard’s return gives the London event a significant recovery narrative rather than being simply another team-tournament appearance. Alcaraz missed the chance to defend his French Open title and was absent from Wimbledon after suffering daily pain in his wrist. He was uncertain whether he would be fit to play at the US Open until a week before the tournament began, according to his interview with BBC Sport.
The Laver Cup follows his US Open comeback, his first tournament for more than five months. For Team Europe, it brings back a player returning from a lengthy wrist-injury absence. Alcaraz’s presence also gives the event a London appearance after the injury ruled him out of Wimbledon.
US Open comeback offered Alcaraz encouragement
Alcaraz’s first tournament back ended in a five-set US Open quarter-final defeat by Ben Shelton. The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes and finished at 3.34am, which BBC Sport reported was the latest finish in the tournament’s history.
Although the defeat ended his title defence, Alcaraz said he regarded reaching the quarter-final as a welcome opportunity after his enforced absence. He said the difficult match had reminded him how much he had missed competing, explaining why he was seen smiling as he left the court despite the loss.
The circumstances of that return underline the uncertainty he faced before New York. Alcaraz had not been sure until the week before the tournament whether he would be able to take part, having missed both the French Open and Wimbledon during the period affected by his wrist.
The late finish also led him to raise concerns about scheduling. Alcaraz argued that matches should not run so deep into the night and suggested an earlier maximum finishing time would be preferable. His view followed a US Open in which several matches went into the early hours, including three Alexander Zverev matches that finished after 1am and a Venus Williams first-round match that ended at 2am.
Alcaraz has also indicated that he may choose to miss tournaments in future in order to protect his mental and physical health. He will now compete for Team Europe in London.
Alcaraz, 23, had described reaching the US Open quarter-final as an opportunity after more than five months away. His Team Europe selection continues that return in a different format, with the three-day London event placing recovery alongside team competition.
Team Europe setting brings a different challenge
The Laver Cup pits a Europe side captained by Yannick Noah against a United States team overseen by Andre Agassi. Alcaraz said having some of the world’s best players beside him as team-mates felt unusual but positive.
He also described the intensity of players competing for their side as a major part of the event’s appeal. The five-set US Open quarter-final supplied a demanding test on his return, while the Laver Cup will present a different team setting.
Alcaraz’s recovery comes in a season in which the BBC also noted that Britain’s Jack Draper ended his campaign early because of an arm injury and Jannik Sinner missed the US Open with a knee injury. He and Jannik Sinner have met only once in 2026 because both have had injury absences. Sinner won their Monte Carlo Masters final encounter.
Alcaraz said he missed seeing and playing his Italian rival, and believed their meetings drove him to improve. Their limited meetings this year underline the disruption caused by injury, while the Laver Cup gives Alcaraz a London appearance after the wrist problem ruled him out of Wimbledon.