The US Open is widely regarded as the most unpredictable of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Held at the tail end of a grueling season, it arrives when players have been on the road for eight months and are often coping with lingering aches, niggling injuries, and the cumulative wear of constant travel. This timing makes the New York event a true test of endurance and resilience, as competitors must summon both physical stamina and mental fortitude to succeed. Another factor that adds to the Open’s open‑ended nature is its hard‑court surface.
Unlike clay or grass, which favor specialists, the hard court is a more neutral playing field that suits a broader range of styles. Many players consider it their "bread and butter" because it rewards a balanced game rather than a singular skill set, thereby widening the pool of potential champions.
The tournament now spans three weeks. The opening week, dubbed "fan week," is packed with exhibitions and side events. This year, fan week featured a nostalgic return of five‑time champion Roger Federer for an exhibition match, while mixed‑doubles champions Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik celebrated their first Grand Slam titles. Six‑time champion Serena Williams also made a brief comeback to Flushing Meadows, and the qualifying draw opened with fifteen British players vying for a spot in the main event.
When the main draw commenced on Sunday, nine British competitors were listed, a record five of whom earned their places through qualifying. The men’s side is led by Germany’s Sascha Zverev, who steps into the top seed role after Jannik Sinner withdrew with a knee injury. On the women’s side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka heads the field.
Looking at the men’s bracket, the top half is anchored by Zverev, who is making his debut as a Grand Slam top seed. He arrives with an impressive résumé, having captured the French Open earlier in the year and boasting an 18‑2 win‑loss record at majors in 2026.
The draw has been kind to him, positioning him favorably for a deep run. However, his recent early exits in both Masters 1000 events raise questions about how he will handle the heightened pressure of being the favorite. In the second quarter, Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur is projected to clash with Zverev in the quarter‑finals.
De Minaur’s path does not include a showdown with Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz, but he will face former finalist Taylor Fritz, French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli, and last year’s semi‑finalist Félix Auger‑Aliassime, all of whom present credible challenges. The bottom half of the men’s draw is exceptionally stacked, featuring all five former US Open champions still active: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic. Djokovic’s quarter includes Medvedev, Cincinnati finalist Francis Tiafoe, Canada finalist Brandon Nakashima, and a possible second‑round encounter with either Wawrinka or Matteo Berrettini.
Beyond that, the defending champion Alcaraz leads the final quarter, where he could meet Ben Shelton (Canada champion), Arthur Fils (Cincinnati champion), Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul and the powerful Roman Safiullin, who has previously defeated Alcaraz and is considered one of his toughest opponents this year after a long singles hiatus. On the women’s side, Sabalenka dominates the first quarter. She aims not only to become the first woman since Serena Williams to secure three consecutive US Open titles but also to retain her world No. 1 ranking.
On paper her draw appears manageable until the quarter‑finals, where she could encounter Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Nonetheless, Sabalenka’s form has been shaky; she is 17‑7 since April and has not lifted a title since March, making her vulnerable despite her high ranking. The second quarter is highlighted by Jessica Pegula, who is in contention for the world No. 1 spot if she captures the championship.
Pegula’s road is littered with hazards, including Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova, Sorana Cirstea, and a possible second‑round clash with former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin or two‑time US Open champion Venus Williams. Former US Open champion and current Cincinnati winner Coco Gauff tops the upper portion of the bottom half. Like Pegula, Gauff can claim the world No. 1 ranking only by winning the title.
In her quarter she may face last year’s finalist Amanda Anisimova, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Washington champion Alex Eala, and a potentially tricky early meeting with Paula Badosa. The toughest quarter appears to be the one containing Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Belinda Bencic. Rybakina would become the new world No.
1 by reaching the semi‑finals, but she is managing a lingering left‑ankle/Achilles issue that flared up in Cincinnati, forcing her to withdraw from her match against Swiatek. Her recent practice sessions have been tentative, leaving fans uncertain whether she can stay healthy enough to claim the top spot. Turning to the British contingent, Arthur Fery is making his US Open debut after a whirlwind summer that saw him reach the Wimbledon semi‑finals and the Winston‑Salem final, where he fell to third seed Ignacio Buse.
Now the British No. 1, Fery draws 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the first round. Musetti, who has found form in Cincinnati, is still recovering from a back injury, giving Fery a realistic chance to advance. Fery shares the top quarter with Zverev and Jan Choinski, who faces Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp.
In the bottom half, Cameron Norrie, seeded 29th, meets Frenchman Luca van Assche for the right to play Miomir Kecmanovic or Dennis Shapovalov in round two. Overall, nine British players are in the main draw, a record five of whom qualified. Among the qualifiers, world No.
110 Toby Samuel will debut against Czech Tomas Machac (world No. 58).
Harry Wendleken, after an exhausting nine‑set, nine‑hour qualifying marathon, will meet 21st seed Luciano Darderi. Lucky loser Jacob Fearnley returns for his second US Open appearance, drawing Spaniard Martin Landaluce. On the women’s side, Katie Boulter entered directly and opens against American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee, who is making her Grand Slam debut at a career‑high ranking of 140. A victory would likely set up a second‑round clash with mixed‑doubles champion and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova.
Harriet Dart qualified by defeating Heather Watson in the final round and will face world No. 54 Peyton Stearns, a recent Cincinnati opponent.
Fran Jones, a two‑year qualifier, draws Poland’s Magda Linette for their first ever meeting. Serena Williams will also make an appearance this year, teaming up with sister Venus in the doubles after receiving a wildcard.
The duo last played together at a Grand Slam in 2022. Prize money has risen again for 2026: both men’s and women’s singles champions will receive $5.5 million (£4.7 million), while first‑round participants are guaranteed $140,000 (£120,000). Predicting a winner remains difficult, but my personal forecast leans toward Zverev capturing his second Grand Slam title after reviewing his favorable draw.
In the women’s field, I anticipate Naomi Osaka breaking through to claim her third US Open crown and her first at Flushing Meadows since 2020. From Sunday onward, Sky Sports will broadcast 15 consecutive days of comprehensive coverage, offering live streams of every match on every court. Commentary will feature former greats such as Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Marion Bartoli, Laura Robson, Ryan Harrison and Naomi Broady.
The tournament kicks off at 3 pm New York time on August 30 and will be available contract‑free on NOW and the Sky Sports app, with the Laver Cup also set to be shown live from The O2 in London later in September.