Carlos Alcaraz is set to play his first tour-level match since the Wimbledon final with an opening clash at the Cincinnati Open against Damir Dzumhur.
Alcaraz lost the championship match at the All England Club to his rival Jannik Sinner, who denied the Spaniard a historic three-peat at the event.
Both players withdrew from the Canadian Open and are now ready to kick off their US hard-court seasons in Cincinnati.
Following the swing is the eighth edition of the Laver Cup, which will be held in San Francisco later this year.
The 2024 champion was Team Europe, of which Alcaraz was a part of in his debut at the event.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver CupWhat surprised Carlos Alcaraz in his Laver Cup debut
In his pre-tournament press conference in Cincinnati, Alcaraz said of his first time at the Laver Cup: “I think it surprised me a lot, the first year that I played there.
“I loved it. I just really wanted to be part of the Laver Cup again. The atmosphere that I lived there was special.
“You get to know the players much better off the court. For me it was great. The intensity that we played the matches is pretty high, and I loved the format.
“Playing singles, playing doubles, just to be there on the bench, coaching them and supporting them really closely.
“I think it’s something that is great for tennis and the fans to see how the tennis players, we see tennis from the outside.
“So I think it’s a great point of view and I’m excited about playing again. I think it’s great for tennis having this event.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s results in his debut at the Laver Cup
Alcaraz lost his opening match at the Laver Cup in 2024, when he was partnered with Alexander Zverev in doubles.
He clinched his first singles win at the tournament against Ben Shelton, defeating the American in straight sets.
In his second doubles match, Alcaraz teamed up with Casper Ruud, and the two emerged victorious over Team World’s duo of US compatriots Shelton and Frances Tiafoe.
Finally, he played Taylor Fritz in a decisive match and secured Team Europe’s victory, winning 6-2, 7-5.