The last five players to beat Carlos Alcaraz ahead of his return in Cincinnati

Carlos Alcaraz is preparing for his return to professional tennis at the Cincinnati Open next month. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has been sidelined since the Barcelona Open, where he suffered a wrist injury that forced him to miss both the clay-court and grass-court seasons. His return to the court is a significant moment for the sport, especially with fans eager to see if he can restart his rivalry with Jannik Sinner.

Looking back at his recent matches reveals a high level of competition on the tour. Sinner currently holds the distinction of being the last player to defeat Alcaraz, having claimed the Monte Carlo Masters title in April with a 7-6, 6-3 victory. This match followed a period where Alcaraz looked nearly unbeatable, having secured both the Australian Open and Qatar Open titles earlier in the year.

Before that loss in Monte Carlo, Alcaraz faced a few difficult results. He lost to Sebastian Korda at the Miami Open in a three-set match, marking a rare defeat to a lower-ranked opponent. Daniil Medvedev also managed to snap Alcaraz’s unbeaten start to 2026 by defeating him in the Indian Wells semi-finals. These losses, along with a defeat to Cameron Norrie at the 2025 Paris Masters and a loss to Taylor Fritz at the 2025 Laver Cup, show the depth of the field currently challenging the top stars.

Despite the injury layoff, Alcaraz has maintained strong form when healthy. He has secured two titles this year and sits among the top players in the world. The tennis community is now waiting to see how his game adjusts to the hard-court swing as he enters the field in Cincinnati. His ability to regain momentum will be tested immediately as he aims to secure another title before the end of the year.