Carlos Alcaraz is feeling some nerves ahead of his return to the ATP Tour, but insists he is "100%" ready to go at the US Open.

Alcaraz has missed the majority of the season due to a wrist injury.

The Spaniard won his first two tournaments of 2026, including becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam by triumphing over Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.

However, Alcaraz has not featured since April, when he lost to Tomas Machac in Barcelona.

He nevertheless heads to Flushing Meadows as one of the favourites, with defending champion Jannik Sinner having withdrawn from the season's final major due to injury.

"I need to come here to practice with these guys to feel the competition once again, and this is a real test," Alcaraz said.

"I'm feeling great and that helped me a lot to know right now that it's all in my head.

"I've got to trust my people who tell me that it's going to be fine. So I just have to go 100%. So I'm just trying to stay away from that fear."

There's some serious history in the bottom half of the men's singles draw pic.twitter.com/Zf0fDJaubO

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2026

Sinner's injury means there will be no renewal of the grand slam rivalry between him and Alcaraz.

The duo split the majors between them last season. They contested the finals of Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

"We are not going to see each other for, like, six months now, seven months. So it's kind of a weird situation, to be honest," said Alcaraz, who lost to Sinner in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters earlier this year.

"I just wish him all the best. Hopefully a really great recovery and see him back on court at his best once again."

Alcaraz, the number two seed at Flushing Meadows, will take on Roman Safiullin in the first round.