Carlos Alcaraz has made an impressive return to the ATP Tour after spending more than four months sidelined with a wrist injury, putting together a strong run of results and showing remarkable improvement in his return game.
Since returning at the US Open, the 23-year-old has won 10 of his 11 matches, including a title at the Japan Open in Tokyo. His performances have eased concerns about his form following a lengthy absence and highlighted a key strength that has helped drive his comeback.
Alcaraz’s return game has been particularly effective. Since his return, he has won 32.9% of his return games, surpassing his rate of 31.7% for the 2026 season and his career average of 31.1%. That figure currently leads the ATP Tour, underlining how effectively he has been putting pressure on opponents’ serves.
Source: BBC
His consistency is just as impressive. Alcaraz has broken serve at least twice in each of his 11 matches since the US Open, creating a total of 108 break points, or almost 10 opportunities per match. Even in his closely contested Tokyo final against Jiri Lehecka, he continued to create chances on return and maintained pressure throughout the match.
Despite these numbers, Alcaraz believes there is still room for improvement. After winning the Tokyo title, he said: “I didn't find my best level, but I did find the good solutions, and I think that is what matters at the end.”
His current return-game percentage also puts him close to a rare historical benchmark. Only two players in recorded tennis history have won at least 33% of their career return games: Guillermo Coria, at 35.2%, and Rafael Nadal, at 33.4%. Although Alcaraz’s 32.9% rate since the US Open covers a much shorter period, it highlights the level he has reached during his comeback.
With his confidence growing and his return game proving increasingly difficult for opponents to handle, Alcaraz will look to carry that momentum into the upcoming Rolex Shanghai Masters. If his recent performances are any indication, he could be an even greater threat as he continues to work his way back towards his best form.
