The US Open has long earned a reputation as the most unpredictable of the four Grand Slam tournaments. By the time the New York swing arrives, players have been on tour for eight months, and most are carrying the inevitable aches, bruises and fatigue that accumulate over a grueling season.
This physical wear‑and‑tear often levels the playing field, making the outcomes harder to forecast than at the French Open, Wimbledon or the Australian Open. Hard courts add another layer of complexity.
While many competitors love the speed and bounce of clay or the elegance of grass, the hard surface at Flushing Meadows is considered the most neutral, favoring a broader range of playing styles. As a result, a larger pool of athletes feel they have a realistic shot at the title, which fuels the tournament’s reputation for surprise results. The US Open now stretches over three weeks. The opening week is essentially a celebration of the sport, featuring fan‑focused events, exhibition matches and the qualifying draw.
This year’s fan week saw a nostalgic return of five‑time champion Roger Federer for an exhibition, while mixed‑doubles champions Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik captured their first Grand Slam titles. Serena Williams also made a brief comeback to the grounds, reminding fans of her six‑time US Open triumphs. The qualifying tournament was notable for its British presence, with fifteen players from the United Kingdom entering the draw.
When the main draw kicks off on Sunday, nine British players will be in contention, a record five of whom have fought their way through qualifying. The men’s side is led by Germany’s Alexander 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, aiming to defend her ranking and chase a historic third consecutive US Open crown.
Looking at the men’s bracket, Zverev anchors the top half. This will be his first time as a Grand Slam top seed, and he arrives with a French Open title earned earlier in the year.
His recent Grand Slam record—18 wins to just two losses—suggests he is in excellent form, yet his early exits in the two preceding Masters 1000 events raise questions about how he will handle the pressure of being the favorite. 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 includes former finalist Taylor Fritz, French Open runner‑up Flavio Cobolli and last year’s semi‑finalist Félix Auger‑Aliassime, offering a blend of power and consistency that could test the German’s resolve. The bottom half of the men’s draw is stacked with heavyweights.
Former US Open champions Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Čilić all occupy this side, guaranteeing high‑stakes matchups in the later rounds. Djokovic’s quarter contains 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 led by defending champion Alcaraz, who faces a field that includes Canada champion Ben Shelton, Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils, the big‑hitter Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul and the formidable Roman Safiullin—who has already bested Alcaraz in a previous encounter and poses a serious threat given the Spaniard’s lack of a singles match since April. On the women’s side, Sabalenka’s narrative dominates the first quarter.
She is not only chasing a third straight US Open title—a feat last achieved by Serena Williams—but also fighting to retain her world No. 1 ranking.
Her draw appears manageable until the quarter‑finals, where a potential showdown with Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková looms. However, Sabalenka’s recent form has been uneven; she has posted a 17‑7 win‑loss record since April and has not lifted a title since March, leaving her vulnerable to a surprise upset. The second quarter is highlighted by Jessica Pegula, who currently sits in contention for the year‑end world No.
1 spot. For Pegula to clinch that ranking, she must win the tournament outright; any lesser result will see her finish behind the current leader. Her section includes seasoned opponents such as Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova and Sorana Cîrstea, as well as a second‑round meeting with either former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin or two‑time US Open winner Venus Williams, each capable of derailing her campaign. Coco Gauff, the reigning Cincinnati champion and former US Open title‑holder, leads the top of the bottom half.
Like Pegula, Gauff can only reach world No. 1 by capturing the US Open crown. Her quarter contains last year’s finalist Amanda Anisimova, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Washington champion Alex Eala and a potentially tricky early clash with Paula Badosa. The toughest quarter, perhaps, belongs to Elena Rybakina’s section, which also houses Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Belinda Bencic.
Rybakina stands to become world No. 1 if she reaches the semifinals, but she has been managing a lingering left‑ankle/Achilles issue that flared up in Cincinnati, forcing 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 any deep run. British hopes are represented by several players.
Arthur Fery, fresh off a runner‑up finish at Winston‑Salem and now the British No. 1, makes his US Open debut against 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Musetti, while showing good form in Cincinnati, is still recovering from a back injury, giving Fery a realistic chance to progress. Fery shares the top quarter with Zverev and fellow Brit Jan Choinski, who will face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
Cameron Norrie, seeded 29th, lands in the bottom half alongside Alcaraz. He opens against French talent Luca van Assche, with the winner set to meet Miomir Kecmanović or Dennis Shapovalov in the second round.
In total, nine British players appear in the main draw, five of whom qualified—a historic first for the nation at Flushing Meadows. Other British qualifiers include world No.
110 Toby Samuel, who draws Czech Tomas Macháč (world No. 58), and Harry Wendleken, who endured nine hours of qualifying play to earn a spot against 21st seed Luciano Darderi. Lucky‑loser Jacob Fearnley will meet Spaniard Martín Landaluce in his second US Open appearance. On the women’s side, Katie Boulter earned direct entry and faces 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 set up a second‑round clash with mixed‑doubles champion and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova. Harriet Dart, another British qualifier, overcame Heather Watson to draw world No. 54 Peyton Stearns, a player she previously lost to in Cincinnati but defeated in US Open qualifying back in 2021.
Fran Jones, also a qualifier for the second consecutive year, will meet Poland’s Magda Linette in a first‑time encounter. Serena Williams remains a storyline despite her limited participation. After partnering with Alcaraz in mixed doubles, she will team up with sister Venus in the women’s doubles after receiving a wildcard. The duo last played together at a Grand Slam in 2022, also at Flushing Meadows.
Prize money has risen again this year. Both the men’s and women’s singles champions will pocket $5.5 million (£4.7 million), while even a first‑round loser is guaranteed $140,000 (£120,000). These figures underscore the tournament’s growing financial allure.
Predicting a winner is always fraught with uncertainty, but personal analysis leans toward Zverev claiming his second Grand Slam title, given his favorable draw and recent French Open success. On the women’s side, Naomi Osaka appears poised to capture her third US Open crown and her first at Flushing Meadows since 2020, potentially sealing the world No. 1 spot if she navigates the draw effectively.
From Sunday onward, Sky Sports will deliver 15 days of uninterrupted tennis coverage, broadcasting every point from every court. Fans can also enjoy commentary from legends such as Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Marion Bartoli, Laura Robson, Ryan Harrison and Naomi Broady.
The US Open will be streamed contract‑free on NOW and the Sky Sports app, with additional events like the Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena (25‑27 September) also available on Sky Sports.