Carlos Alcaraz has said that “intrusive thoughts” were the most difficult part of his four-month injury layoff as he prepares to return to singles at the U.S. Open.The defending champion said in a news conference Friday that the first month of his recovery from a right wrist injury had been especially difficult, because he could not use his right arm.The 23-year-old has not played a singles match since suffering the injury at the Barcelona Open in April, which forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. He returned to competition alongside American Serena Williams in the U.S. Open mixed doubles this week and will face Roman Safiullin in the first round of the men’s singles.“Once I started to practice a little bit, that I didn’t know when I’m gonna start, that thoughts are really difficult to deal with, because I don’t know if I’m gonna be ready for Cincinnati, for the U.S. Open, or I’m gonna miss the whole American swing,” Alcaraz said.“So I would say that intrusive thoughts were the most difficult things to deal with.”Carlos Alcaraz confirms U.S. Open returnAva Wallace and Lauren Morales-JonesAlcaraz has made no technical changes to his game during his recovery, saying that changing his technique or movement would have prevented him from returning as the same player.