The US Open stands out among the four Grand Slam tournaments as the most unpredictable event, largely because it arrives at a point in the calendar when players have been on tour for eight months. By this stage, most athletes are coping with lingering aches, bruises, and the general wear and tear that comes from a relentless season. The hard‑court surface in New York also tends to level the playing field; while many competitors have strong preferences—either love or loathe—when it comes to clay or grass, the hard courts are considered a neutral ground where a broader pool of players feel comfortable.
This year’s tournament has been framed as a three‑week spectacle. The opening week, dubbed "fan week," featured a series of high‑profile events: five‑time champion Roger Federer returned for an exhibition match, mixed‑doubles partners Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik captured their first Grand Slam title, and Serena Williams made a celebrated comeback to Flushing Meadows after a long hiatus. The qualifying rounds also attracted considerable attention, with fifteen British players entering the draw. When the main draw commenced on Sunday, nine British competitors were listed, a record five of whom had battled through qualifying.
On the men’s side, the top seed is Sascha Zverev, who steps into the spotlight in the absence of Jannik Sinner, sidelined by a knee injury. The women’s draw is headed by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who is aiming to defend her title and cement her place at the summit of the rankings.
Looking at the men’s bracket, the top half is anchored by Zverev. This is his first time as a Grand Slam top seed, and he arrives with a recent French Open victory under his belt. His performance this year at the majors has been impressive, boasting an 18‑2 win‑loss record.
However, the pressure of being the highest‑seeded player could test his composure, especially after early exits in both Masters 1000 events leading up to the US Open. The second quarter of the draw is led by Australia’s Alex de Minaur, the sixth seed, who is projected to meet Zverev in the quarter‑finals.
De Minaur’s path includes potential clashes with former finalist Taylor Fritz, French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli, and last year’s semi‑finalist Félix Auger‑Aliassime. The bottom half of the men’s draw is arguably the toughest, featuring all five former US Open champions still in contention: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Čilić.
Djokovic’s quarter contains Medvedev, Cincinnati finalist Francis Tiafoe, Canadian finalist Brandon Nakashima, and a possible second‑round meeting with either Wawrinka or Matteo Berrettini. The final quarter is dominated by defending champion Alcaraz, whose section includes Canada champion Ben Shelton, Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils, Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul and the powerful Russian Roman Safiullin, who has previously defeated Alcaraz and could present a stern test for the Spaniard, who has not played a singles match since April. On the women’s side, Sabalenka’s primary storyline revolves around her pursuit of a third consecutive US Open title—a feat not achieved since Serena Williams—and her effort to retain the world No.
1 ranking. Her draw looks manageable until the quarter‑finals, where she could encounter Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
Yet concerns linger about Sabalenka’s recent form; she has a 17‑7 record since April and has not captured a title since March, leaving her vulnerable in a tournament where she has yet to win a major in 2026. The second quarter is dominated by Jessica Pegula, who is in contention to finish the event as world No. 1.
To achieve that, she must win the championship outright. Her path is littered with obstacles, including matches against Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova, Sorana Cîrstea, and a second‑round showdown with either former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin or two‑time US Open winner Venus Williams. Coco Gauff, the reigning Cincinnati champion, leads the top of the bottom half and also has a shot at the top ranking, but only by capturing the title.
Awaiting her are last year’s finalist Amanda Anisimova, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Washington champion Alex Eala, and a potentially tricky early encounter with Paula Badosa. The toughest segment of the women’s draw appears to be the quarter containing Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Belinda Bencic. Rybakina could become world No.
1 by reaching the semi‑finals, but she is nursing a lingering left‑ankle/Achilles issue that flared up in Cincinnati and forced her withdrawal against Świątek. Her recent practice sessions have been tentative, and it remains to be seen whether she can stay healthy enough to claim the top spot.
Turning to the British contingent, Arthur Fery, fresh from a semi‑final run at Wimbledon and a runner‑up finish at the Winston‑Salem final, arrives as the UK No. 1. He will make his US Open debut against 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who is returning from a back injury but has shown good form in Cincinnati. Fery shares the top quarter with Zverev and Jan Choinski, who will face Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp.
Cameron Norrie, seeded 29th, lands in the bottom half alongside Alcaraz and will open against Frenchman Luca van Assche, with a possible second‑round clash against Miomir Kecmanović or Dennis Shapovalov. In total, nine British players feature in the main draw, five of whom earned their spots through qualifying—a first for the tournament.
Among the qualifiers are Toby Samuel (world No. 110), who will meet Czech Tomas Macháč (world No.
58), and Harry Wendleken, who endured nine sets and nine hours of qualifying to face 21st seed Luciano Darderi. Lucky‑loser Jacob Fearnley will open against Spaniard Martín Landaluce. On the women’s side, Katie Boulter is the sole direct entrant from the UK and opens against American wildcard Carol Young‑Suh Lee, a 24‑year‑old ranked 140th who is making her Grand Slam debut. A win would likely set up a second‑round meeting with mixed‑doubles champion and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova.
Harriet Dart, who qualified by defeating Heather Watson, will face American Peyton Stearns (world No. 54), a player she previously lost to in Cincinnati but beat in US Open qualifying in 2021.
Fran Jones, a repeat qualifier, will meet Poland’s Magda Linette in her first head‑to‑head. Serena Williams will also appear later in the tournament, this time partnering with her sister Venus in the women’s doubles after receiving a wild card.
The duo last played together at a Grand Slam in 2022. Prize money has risen again this year: the singles champions in both men’s and women’s draws will each receive $5.5 million (£4.7 million), while first‑round losers are guaranteed $140,000 (£120,000).
Predicting a winner remains challenging, but personal speculation leans toward Zverev capturing his second Grand Slam title after assessing his favorable draw. In the women’s field, Naomi Osaka is selected as the potential champion, aiming for her third US Open crown and first victory at Flushing Meadows since 2020. From Sunday onward, Sky Sports will broadcast 15 days of continuous tennis coverage, offering live streams of every match on every court. Commentary will include insights from former greats such as Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Marion Bartoli, Laura Robson, Ryan Harrison and Naomi Broady.
The US Open coverage begins on August 30, with contract‑free streaming available via NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will also be shown live from The O2 in London later in September.