The US Open has long earned a reputation 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 circuit for eight months and are often coping with lingering aches, minor injuries, and the cumulative fatigue of relentless travel. Unlike the specialist surfaces of clay and grass, the hard courts at Flushing Meadows are considered a neutral ground where many competitors feel most comfortable, making the field especially deep and the outcomes harder to forecast. This year the tournament stretches over three weeks, with the opening week dedicated to fan festivities and exhibition matches.
Highlights included a nostalgic appearance by five‑time champion Roger Federer in a charity exhibition, the mixed‑doubles triumph of Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, and a special return of six‑time champion Serena Williams to the venue. The qualifying rounds also generated buzz, featuring fifteen British players vying for a spot in the main draw.
The men’s draw officially begins on Sunday and features nine British entrants, a record five of whom have earned their places through qualifying. With Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury, the top seed in the men’s bracket is Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who steps into the role after capturing the French Open title earlier in the year. Zverev arrives with an impressive 18‑2 record at Grand Slam events for the season, and the draw appears to favor him, positioning him as a strong contender for the championship.
However, the pressure of being the top seed and his early exits from the recent Masters 1000 events raise questions about how he will manage expectations in New York. In the second quarter of the draw, Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur is projected to meet Zverev in the quarter‑finals. De Minaur’s path does not include the likes of 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 formidable challenges. The bottom half of the men’s draw is arguably the toughest, packed with all five living US Open champions: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Čilić.
Djokovic’s quarter includes Medvedev, Cincinnati finalist Francis Tiafoe, Canadian finalist Brandon Nakashima, and a potential second‑round clash with either Wawrinka or Matteo Berrettini. The final quarter is anchored by defending champion Alcaraz, whose section contains Canada champion Ben Shelton, Cincinnati winner Arthur Fils, Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul and the hard‑hitting Roman Safiullin, who has previously upset Alcaraz and could pose a serious test for the Spaniard, who has not played a singles match since April. On the women’s side, world No.
1 Aryna Sabalenka leads the top quarter. She is aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams to claim three straight US Open titles while also defending her world‑number‑one ranking.
On paper her draw looks manageable until the quarter‑finals, where she could encounter Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Yet Sabalenka’s recent form has been shaky; she is 17‑7 since April and has not lifted a title since March, leaving her vulnerable in a tournament where she has yet to win a Grand Slam in 2026.
The second quarter is dominated by Jessica Pegula, who is in contention for the year‑end world No. 1 spot.
To achieve that, she must capture the US Open title, as any lesser result will not suffice. Pegula’s road is littered with dangerous opponents, including Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova, Sorana Cîrstea, and a second‑round encounter with either former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin or two‑time US Open winner Venus Williams.
Coco Gauff, the reigning Cincinnati champion and former US Open champion, heads the top of the bottom half. She also has a chance to finish the year as world No.
1, but only by winning the tournament. In her quarter she could meet last year’s finalist Amanda Anisimova, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Washington champion Alex Eala, and a potentially tricky early match against Paula Badosa. The final quarter is stacked with Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Belinda Bencic.
Rybakina stands to become the new world No. 1 if she reaches the semifinals, but she is battling a lingering left‑ankle/Achilles issue that flared up in Cincinnati and forced her to withdraw from a match against Świątek. Her recent practice sessions have looked tentative, so her ability to stay healthy will be a key factor in her quest for the top ranking.
British hopes are represented by several players. Arthur Fery, fresh off a runner‑up finish at Winston‑Salem, enters the US Open as the British No.
1 and will face 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the first round. Musetti, though returning from a back injury, has shown good form in Cincinnati, making this a compelling opening battle.
Fery shares the top quarter with Zverev and Jan Choinski, who will meet Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp. Cameron Norrie, seeded 29th, lands in the bottom half alongside Alcaraz. He opens against Frenchman Luca van Assche, with a possible second‑round clash against Miomir Kecmanović or Dennis Shapovalov. In total, nine British players have secured spots in the main draw, five of them via qualifying – a historic first for the United States Open.
Among the qualifiers are Toby Samuel (world No. 110), who draws Czech Tomas Macháč (world No. 58), and Harry Wendleken, who endured nine sets and nine hours of qualifying to earn a place against 21st seed Luciano Darderi. Jacob Fearnley arrives as a lucky loser for his second US Open appearance, set to face Spaniard Martin Landaluce.
On the women’s side, Katie Boulter is the sole direct entrant from Britain and opens against American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee, a 24‑year‑old making her Grand Slam debut at a career‑high ranking of 140. A win would likely pit Boulter against mixed‑doubles champion and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova in the second round.
Harriet Dart, another British qualifier, earned her spot by defeating Heather Watson and will meet American Peyton Stearns (world No. 54), a player she has a recent history with from Cincinnati and US Open qualifying in 2021. Fran Jones, for the second consecutive year, qualifies and will face Poland’s Magda Linette in their first meeting.
Serena Williams remains a storyline, as she will partner with sister Venus in the doubles draw after receiving a wild card. The duo last played together at a Grand Slam in 2022, and their appearance adds an extra layer of excitement to the tournament.
Prize money has risen again this year, with the singles champions in both the men’s and women’s draws set to receive $5.5 million (£4.7 million) each. Even first‑round losers are guaranteed $140,000 (£120,000), underscoring the financial stakes at Flushing Meadows. Predicting a winner is always fraught with uncertainty, but personal analysis leans toward Zverev capturing his second Grand Slam title after navigating a favorable draw. On the women’s side, the forecast points to Naomi Osaka, who could claim her third US Open crown and her first at this venue since 2020, potentially reshaping the race for the year‑end world No.
1 ranking. From Sunday onward, Sky Sports will provide 15 days of uninterrupted tennis coverage, with every match available across all courts.
Commentators such as Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Marion Bartoli, Laura Robson, Ryan Harrison and Naomi Broady will share insights throughout the fortnight. The US Open broadcast begins on August 30, and viewers can stream the action contract‑free via NOW or the Sky Sports app, with additional events like the Laver Cup also featured on Sky Sports later in September.