Even when he’s not crushing forehands on the ATP Tour, Carlos Alcaraz finds a way to stay in the spotlight. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who captured the Australian Open in February, has been sidelined since April with a wrist injury that forced him to miss both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. But instead of moping, the 23-year-old world No. 3 has been soaking up the Mediterranean sun—and apparently, some company.
Alcaraz was spotted earlier this week lounging on a yacht off the coast of Naples, accompanied by a mystery blonde woman. While neither party has confirmed anything, social media detectives are convinced the woman is Claudia Canals, a model who has gone viral before for her jaw-dropping looks. Canals, who is no stranger to the internet’s attention, recently posted a swimsuit photo that has fans buzzing almost as much as Alcaraz’s return to the court.
The timing of the sighting is interesting. Alcaraz has been open about his recovery struggles. “My recovery is going well and I feel much better, but unfortunately I’m still not ready to be able to play, and that’s why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon,” he said in a statement. “They are two really special tournaments for me and I’ll miss them a lot. We keep working to return as soon as possible!”
While his racquet has been resting, his personal life appears to be thriving. The yacht trip comes just weeks after Genie Bouchard sent fans into a frenzy with stunning Lake Como swimsuit snaps, showing that tennis stars—and their rumored partners—know how to make a splash off the court. Alcaraz’s situation is reminiscent of other athletes whose off-court moments grab headlines, like Donovan Mitchell's fiancée Coco Jones sizzling in a swimsuit during her bachelorette party.
When Will Carlos Alcaraz Return?
According to Spanish outlet La Verdad, the wrist injury that has plagued Alcaraz for the past three months has “completely healed.” That’s music to the ears of tennis fans who have missed his fearless, creative style of play. As of now, Alcaraz is listed in the draw for next month’s Cincinnati Open, a strong indicator that he’ll be ready for the US Open—where he defeated Jannik Sinner in last year’s final.
Men’s tennis has certainly felt his absence. The sport’s top stars have been battling it out without him, but the prospect of his return adds a jolt of excitement to the upcoming hard-court season. If he can stay healthy, Alcaraz remains a threat to dominate the final Grand Slam of the year.
For now, though, the tennis world is divided between watching his recovery updates and admiring his rumored girlfriend’s latest social media posts. It’s a reminder that even when the world No. 3 isn’t swinging a racquet, he’s still swinging—just in a different way.
