World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has officially withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters as he continues to recover from a wrist injury that has kept him off the ATP Tour since April, casting fresh doubt over his participation in this month’s US Open. Tournament organizers confirmed on Tuesday that the Spanish superstar will not defend his Cincinnati title, citing an “ongoing wrist injury.” The ATP Masters 1000 event, scheduled to begin on August 13, is regarded as the final major warm-up tournament before the US Open. Tournament director Bob Moran expressed support for the 23-year-old, saying everyone at Cincinnati hopes to see him back on court soon. “We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible. We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future,” Moran said in an official statement. The withdrawal has intensified speculation surrounding Alcaraz’s fitness ahead of the US Open, which begins on August 30 in New York. As the defending champion, his absence from Cincinnati leaves him with little opportunity to regain competitive rhythm before the year’s final Grand Slam. Alcaraz has not played a competitive match since suffering a wrist injury during the opening round of the Barcelona Open in April. Since then, he has withdrawn from several high-profile tournaments, including the Madrid Open, Italian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and now Cincinnati. When announcing his decision to miss Roland Garros earlier this year, Alcaraz described it as “the most prudent” choice after discussions with his team. Although his rehabilitation has reportedly progressed well, the Spaniard has repeatedly stressed that he would only return when fully fit. His absence from Wimbledon proved particularly significant, as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner successfully defended his title by defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final. Despite his lengthy spell on the sidelines, Alcaraz enjoyed a remarkable start to 2026. He completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in January, becoming the youngest men’s player to achieve the feat. He followed that historic triumph with another title in Doha in February, taking his Grand Slam tally to seven. With the countdown to Flushing Meadows underway, tennis fans will now be anxiously waiting for an official update on whether one of the sport’s biggest stars will be fit in time to defend his US Open crown.

MUMBAI: Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what he described as lenient disciplinary action against Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi following separate incidents involving the young Indian players. Manjrekar expressed his frustration on social media after the ICC sanctioned Jaiswal and Sri Lankan fast bowler Asitha Fernando following an on-field confrontation during the Galle Test. Jaiswal and Fernando were involved in a heated exchange after the Indian batter was dismissed. The situation escalated when the two players moved towards each other and their heads made contact, prompting teammates and officials to intervene before the confrontation could develop further. The ICC found both players guilty of breaching its code of conduct and imposed a fine of 25 per cent of their match fees, along with one demerit point each. Manjrekar questioned whether the punishment was strong enough given the nature of the incident. He argued that the authorities should have taken a firmer position on conduct that could potentially undermine discipline and sportsmanship in international cricket. The former India international also referred to an earlier incident involving 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, expressing disappointment that the youngster had received only a 50 per cent match-fee fine. His comments have renewed discussion about whether disciplinary measures in cricket are consistent across players and incidents, particularly when young cricketers are involved. The Jaiswal-Fernando confrontation attracted considerable attention because it occurred during a Test match, where players are expected to maintain discipline despite the intense pressure of international competition. The involvement of teammates in separating the two players prevented the incident from becoming more serious. The ICC’s decision means both Jaiswal and Fernando will carry a demerit point on their disciplinary records, although neither player received a suspension. Manjrekar’s criticism adds to the wider debate over how cricket’s governing bodies should respond to confrontations on the field. While fines are intended to punish misconduct, some former players believe stronger sanctions are necessary when physical contact occurs. The controversy also highlights the challenge faced by cricket authorities in balancing firm discipline with proportionate punishment. For now, the ICC decision stands, but Manjrekar’s comments are likely to keep the debate alive over whether international cricket needs tougher penalties for on-field clashes.