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 circuit for eight months and are often battling lingering aches, fatigue, and minor injuries. By the time the New York courts open, many athletes are carrying the physical toll of a relentless tour, which makes forecasting the champions especially tricky.
Unlike the clay of Roland Garros or the grass of Wimbledon, the hard courts at Flushing Meadows are a surface that most professionals consider their "bread and butter." While some players love or loathe the slower clay or the slick grass, the majority feel most comfortable on the medium‑pace hard surface, which levels the playing field and adds to the tournament's open‑ended nature. This year the US Open stretches over three weeks, with the first week dedicated to fan activities and exhibition matches.
Highlights of the fan week included a nostalgic return of five‑time champion Roger Federer for an exhibition, the mixed‑doubles triumph of Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, and a special appearance by six‑time champion Serena Williams, who made a brief comeback to the venue. The qualifying draw also featured a notable British presence, with fifteen players from the United Kingdom competing for a spot in the main event. The main draw kicks off on Sunday and features nine British players, a record five of whom earned their places through qualifying. On the men’s side, the top seed is Sascha Zverev, who steps into the role vacated by the injured Jannik Sinner.
Zverev, a French Open champion earlier this season, arrives with an impressive 18‑2 record in Grand Slam matches this year, suggesting he could be a serious contender despite the pressure that comes with being the highest‑seeded player. Zverev’s section of the draw looks favorable. He will need to navigate past a handful of opponents, including the sixth‑seeded Australian Alex de Minaur, who is projected to meet Zverev in the quarter‑finals.
De Minaur’s path is also manageable; his section contains 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, however, is stacked with former US Open champions: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Čilić.
This concentration of elite talent makes the lower half a potential minefield for any player seeking a deep run. In Djokovic’s quarter, Medvedev awaits, along with Cincinnati finalist Francis Tiafoe, Canadian finalist Brandon Nakashima, and a possible second‑round clash with either Wawrinka or Matteo Berrettini.
The final quarter is headed by defending champion Alcaraz, whose opponents include Canadian champion Ben Shelton, Cincinnati winner Arthur Fils, the big‑serving Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul and the hard‑hitting Roman Safiullin, who has previously beaten Alcaraz and could pose a significant challenge given the Spaniard’s lack of singles match play since April. On the women’s side, world No.
1 Aryna Sabalenka leads the top quarter. She aims not only to become the first woman since Serena Williams to capture three straight US Open titles, but also to retain her No. 1 ranking.
On paper her draw looks manageable until the quarter‑finals, where she could encounter Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. However, Sabalenka’s recent form is a concern; she has posted a 17‑7 record since April and has not lifted a title since March, leaving her vulnerable in a tournament where she has yet to claim a Grand Slam in 2026.
The second women’s quarter is dominated by Jessica Pegula, who is in contention for the year‑end world No. 1 spot. For Pegula to clinch the top ranking, she must win the championship outright. Her section includes former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, two‑time US Open champion Venus Williams, and dangerous opponents such as Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova and Sorana Cîrstea.
The bottom half opens with current Cincinnati champion Coco Gauff, who also has a shot at the No. 1 ranking if she captures the title. Gauff’s 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 segment of the women’s draw appears to be the third quarter, which features 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 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, and it remains to be seen whether she can stay healthy enough to chase her first world‑number‑one ranking.
British hopes are represented by several players. Arthur Fery, fresh off a runner‑up finish at Winston‑Salem after a semi‑final run at Wimbledon, arrives as the UK No.
1 and makes his US Open debut against 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who is returning from a back injury but has found form in Cincinnati. Fery shares a section with top seed Zverev and compatriot Jan Choinski, who will face Dutch player Botic Van de Zandschulp. Cameron Norrie, seeded 29th, lands in the bottom half alongside Alcaraz and opens against Frenchman Luca van Assche, with a potential second‑round showdown against Miomir Kecmanović or Dennis Shapovalov.
The British contingent also includes qualifier Toby Samuel (world No. 110), who will meet Czech Tomas Macháč (world No. 58) in his first main‑draw appearance, and Harry Wendleken, who endured nine hours of qualifying play to earn a spot against 21st seed Luciano Darderi.
Lucky‑loser Jacob Fearnley returns for his second US Open, set to face 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 140 who is also making her Grand Slam debut. If Boulter advances, she is likely to meet mixed‑doubles champion Karolina Muchova in the second round.
Harriet Dart secured her place through qualifying by defeating Heather Watson in the final round and will face American world No. 54 Peyton Stearns, a player she previously lost to in Cincinnati but beat during US Open qualifying in 2021. Fran Jones, a two‑year‑running qualifier, will open against Poland’s Magda Linette, marking their first encounter.
Serena Williams will still be present at Flushing Meadows, this time partnering with her sister Venus in the women’s doubles after receiving a wildcard. The duo last played together at a Grand Slam in 2022, and their return adds a nostalgic storyline to the tournament. Prize money has increased again for 2026.
Both the 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 a challenge, but my personal forecast leans toward Zverev capturing his second Grand Slam title, given his favorable draw and recent form. On the women’s side, I see Naomi Osaka breaking through to claim her third US Open crown and her first at Flushing Meadows since 2020, potentially securing the world No.
1 spot in the process. From Sunday onward, Sky Sports will deliver 15 days of nonstop tennis coverage, broadcasting every match from every court.
Viewers can enjoy commentary from former champions such as Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Marion Bartoli, Laura Robson, Ryan Harrison and Naomi Broady. The tournament will be streamed contract‑free on NOW and the Sky Sports app, with additional live events like the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September also available on Sky Sports.