US Open 2026 Preview: The Players to Watch in New York
The US Open will be back at Flushing Meadows from August 30 and runs until September 13. This will bring the Grand Slam season to a close on the hard courts of New York. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are the defending singles champions, but there are issues around form and fitness which will make things interesting.
The men’s competition is headed by Alexander Zverev and Alcaraz, while Sabalenka leads another strong women’s field. With less than two weeks remaining before the main draw begins, several leading contenders still have important questions to answer.
Sinner’s Knee as Ruled him out of New York
With a season that has included Master 1000 titles at Indian Wells and Madrid, Sinner is still the world number 1. However, as he prepares for New York, he has experienced disruption thanks to inflammation in his right knee. This is the same issue that kept him out of Cincinnati.
The Italian has been training in Turin and assessing whether he is ready to compete. He has ultimately made the decision to withdraw from the event and regroup for 2027.
Sinner won the US Open in 2024 before losing to Alcaraz in the 2025 final. His combination of powerful groundstrokes, movement and hard-court results means his fitness will inevitably influence tennis odds online as the tournament approaches.
Alcaraz Has Questions Of His Own
Alcatraz is also preparing after missing out on the action in Cincinnati. He is continuing to recover from a wrist injury that he suffered earlier in the season. The Spanish player is still the world number 3, and preparation now is vital.
It’s fair to say that he already has an impressive record in New York. He won his first Grand Slam title there back in 2022 and then reclaimed the championship last year. The start of 2026 also saw him beat Djokovic in the Australian Open final, and this completed the career Grand Slam.
If Alcaraz is fit and good to go, he could very well win another title in New York. Their rivalry has become a major draw in men’s tennis, with Alcaraz currently holding a narrow advantage in their career meetings.
Zverev Leads The Other Challengers
Alexander Zverev enters the US Open ranked third and remains one of the most experienced players who is still seeking a first Grand Slam title. He came close in New York back in 2020, losing the final to Dominic Thiem after leading by two sets.
Ben Shelton is another player worth watching. The American is ranked sixth and already has experience at the US Open. In 2023, he reached the semi-finals, so he knows all that’s involved in a long run. His powerful serve is well-suited to hard courts, which goes in his favour.
Novak Djokovic obviously can’t be ignored either. The 39-year-old is ranked fifth and owns four US Open titles among his record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles championships. His schedule is now increasingly focused on the majors, making previous success and experience significant whenever he enters a Grand Slam.
Sabalenka Targets A Rare Hat-Trick
The women’s draw has a real focus on Sabalenka, who won the US Open in 2024 and 2025. This means that she is set to become the first woman to win three consecutive singles titles in New York since Serena Williams.
She comes with a powerful serve and a baseline game that can only be described as aggressive. This works well on hard courts. She enters the tournament as the world number 1, so this tournament gives her the chance to secure her position at the top of women’s tennis.
The competition remains strong. Iga Swiatek won the US Open in 2022, while Coco Gauff claimed the title the following year. Elena Rybakina is another established Grand Slam champion capable of challenging on hard courts.
Recent Form Will Shape Expectations
Results during the North American hard-court season provide the final competitive evidence before players arrive in New York. They can also produce movement across online sports betting markets as performances, injuries and potential draw positions become clearer.
Warm-up results don’t always translate directly to Grand Slam success. The men’s best-of-five format creates different physical demands, while the pressure and two-week schedule make majors very different from regular ATP and WTA tournaments.
This year, fitness could be particularly important. Sinner and Alcaraz have both missed Cincinnati, while several challengers have gained additional competitive matches during the North American swing.
A Grand Slam With Plenty Of Questions
Sinner and Alcaraz remain the central figures in the men’s tournament, but neither approaches New York with completely straightforward preparation. Zverev, Djokovic, Shelton and other leading players will be ready to take advantage if either struggles physically.
The entry lists contain most of the biggest names in tennis. What remains uncertain is which of them will arrive at Flushing Meadows healthy, in form and ready for seven matches at the final Grand Slam of 2026.
