Carlos Alcaraz has made a strong return to competition at the 2026 US Open after spending several months sidelined with a wrist injury. The second seed initially looked short of match sharpness against Portugal’s Jaime Faria, dropping the opening set 4-6, but quickly turned the contest around. Alcaraz won the next eight games to seize control before closing out a convincing 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory and booking his place in the third round.
While Alcaraz has been making headlines on court, attention has also continued to surround his personal life. The 23-year-old was spotted in Italy in July with Claudia Canals, sparking speculation that the pair are romantically involved, although neither has confirmed a relationship. Canals’ social media following has grown significantly since the sightings, and during the US Open she appeared to embrace the spotlight by sharing a series of animal-print bikini photos on Instagram.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Rumored Girlfriend Claudia Canals Steals Spotlight With Animal-Print Bikini
The person many might expect to see supporting the Spanish star from the stands has been notably absent. Alcaraz’s rumored girlfriend, Claudia Canals, has not been spotted in New York during his early matches. Canals and Alcaraz sparked relationship speculation in July after they were seen together on a boat along Italy’s coastline. Canals, a Spanish entrepreneur and digital marketing professional, quickly found herself in the spotlight following the sighting.
While neither she nor Alcaraz has confirmed that they are a couple, her social media presence has grown considerably since she was linked to the 23-year-old tennis star. The 2026 US Open has also given Canals an opportunity to remain in the spotlight from afar. She recently shared a series of animal-print bikini photos on Instagram, captioning the post, “September.” Some of the pictures showed a menu from Restaurante Playa Grande in Barcelona, suggesting that she may currently be in Spain rather than New York. Still, that does not necessarily mean she will miss Alcaraz’s upcoming matches, with the possibility that she could travel to watch him later in the tournament.
Alcaraz Keeps Romance Private as Claudia Canals Builds Her Own Career
Canals has plenty keeping her busy away from tennis as well. She is the founder of CC Studio, a social media agency, and previously appeared on Spain’s version of “Temptation Island.” With Alcaraz expected to make a deep run at the US Open, Canals could potentially make an appearance if the Spaniard progresses into the later stages of the tournament.
Alcaraz has generally preferred to keep his romantic life away from the public eye. During the ATP Finals last November, former tennis player Elena Vesnina directly asked him about his relationship status after he finished runner-up to Jannik Sinner. “I have a question from a lot of girls around the world. Your heart has been taken?” Vesnina asked. Alcaraz replied, “No, I’m free. I’m free. I’m free.”
