US Open 2026: All to know about the schedule, top seeds and favourites

Published On 28 Aug 202628 Aug 2026.

Key points

• Winner: $1m Finalist: $500, 000 Semi-finalist: $250, 000 Quarter-finalist: $125, 000 Round of 16: $75, 000 Round of 32: $45, 000 Round of 64: $30, 000.
• World number two Rybakina is hot on Sabalenka's heels for the top spot with 8, 141 points to Sabalenka's 8, 575.
• Eala will headline the Stars of the Open exhibition event at Arthur Ashe on Thursday alongside young players Joao Fonseca, Iva Jovic and Learner Tien.
• Alongside Sinner, Brazil's Fonseca (ATP 26th ranking) and Briton Jack Draper (ATP 141st ranking) will be absent from the men's side.
• The season of Honey Deuce cocktails at Flushing Meadows is upon us as the 2026 US Open main draw gets under way in New York this Sunday.

Notably, the season of Honey Deuce cocktails at Flushing Meadows is upon us as the 2026 US Open main draw gets under way in New York this Sunday.

Although there will additionally be some notable injured absentees, this year's fourth and final Grand Slam will feature some of the biggest names in tennis and breakout players on the up and up.

In practice, the mixed doubles title has already been asserted by Czech pair Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik on Wednesday night after defeating Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Italy's Flavio Cobolli.

Here's everything you need to know regarding the US Open main draw. Where and when is the US Open?

All the main draw action from August 30 until September 13 is at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, just outside New York City. The men's and women's quarterfinals commence on September 8, followed by. Women's singles semifinals: September 10. Men's singles semifinals: September 11. Women's final: September 12. Men's final: September 13. Who are the top seeds? What are some major storylines?

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner withdraws: The World number one remarked he was "very sad and disappointed" to withdraw from after being unable to recover from a right knee injury that has sidelined him since winning the Wimbledon title. The Italian pulled out of hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati that serve as a warm-up for the US Open.

Carlos Alcaraz back in action: The Spaniard will look to defend his title after a four-month hiatus from tennis due to a wrist injury, but Sinner's absence means the crowd will not see the beloved "Sincaraz" rivalry this time.

Although their star power faded as they fell to Cobolli and Bencic in the quarterfinal, serena Williams, Alcaraz pair up for iconic mixed doubles duo: Two generational greats teamed up for this year's mixed doubles.

Serena and Venus Williams receive doubles wildcard: The 23-time Grand Slam champion received a women's doubles wildcard alongside older sister Venus. They have played together at the US Open nine times, winning in 1999 and 2009. Venus additionally received a wildcard for the women's singles.

2016 champion Stan Wawrinka handed last-minute wildcard: The former world number three was left off the initial list of wildcard entries in his farewell season, but was handed the entry on Wednesday after a number of days of outcry from fans over his exclusion.

Teen sensation Moise Kouame makes US Open debut: The 17-year-old created history at this year's French Open when he became the youngest male Grand Slam winner in 17 years. Nevertheless, the Frenchman's US Open debut concluded in the qualifying round after defeat to Nishesh Basavareddy of the US.

Novak Djokovic continues pursuit of elusive 25th slam: The world number five Djokovic has been in relentless pursuit of a record 25th Slam title since winning his 24th at the US Open in 2023. The Serbian's ambition has repeatedly been tested by age as the 39-year-old struggled with stifling humidity at this month's Cincinnati Open. Still, he reached the Australian Open final this year as well as the Wimbledon semifinal. Is Roger Federer making a comeback? No. The 45-year-old Swiss icon categorically ruled out a Williams-esque return.

His brief on-court appearance in New York this week was for primetime exhibition matches ahead of a trip to Newport, Rhode Island to be enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday. Who's probable to lift the trophy?

With Sinner out of contention, Alcaraz has a clear shot at his title defence for a third US Open win.

Although the German was knocked out in the fourth round at last week's Cincinnati Open, wimbledon champion and top seed Alexander Zverev will additionally be looking to carry momentum from his maiden Slam win in June.

Arthur Fils, seeded 23rd, could be a surprise contender in the final four after the Frenchman defeated American Frances Tiafoe to clinch his maiden Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati last week.

Although the Belarusian will be eyeing a third consecutive win in New York, over on the women's side, Gauff will look to defeat top-ranked Sabalenka for a repeat of her maiden US Open title in 2023.

That being remarked, the 28-year-old has faltered this season after a fourth round defeat in Cincinnati, the Toronto Masters, Wimbledon and a quarterfinal exit at Roland Garros.

At 32, Jessica Pegula is the oldest top 10 player, but has been a finalist and semifinalist previously two years and will look to continue that on home soil this year too.

Although a fourth round appearance in New York will be her deepest at the US Open, russian teenager Andreeva bagged her maiden Slam title at the French Open this summer and sits at a career-high world number five.

Alex Eala of the Philippines will be a force to watch after the 21-year-old discovered her breakthrough with a maiden WTA title this month at the Washington Open.

Although the duo fell in the first round to husband-and-wife duo of Gael Monfils and Svitolina, she received a wildcard for the US Open mixed doubles with Auger-Aliassime.

Eala will headline the Stars of the Open exhibition event at Arthur Ashe on Thursday alongside young players Joao Fonseca, Iva Jovic and Learner Tien. What's the prize funds this year? A record $108m prize pot is up for grabs this time.

Winner: $5.5m Finalist: $2.8m Semi-finalist: $1.45m Quarter-finalist: $780, 000 Round of 16: $480, 000 Round of 32: $290, 000 Round of 64: $190, 000 Round of 128: $140, 000 Qualifying Round of 32: $66, 000 Qualifying Round of 64: $48, 000 Qualifying Round of 128: $32, 000.

Winner: $1m Finalist: $500, 000 Semi-finalist: $250, 000 Quarter-finalist: $125, 000 Round of 16: $75, 000 Round of 32: $45, 000 Round of 64: $30, 000. Who are some notable absences this year?

Emma Raducanu of Britain, world number 15 Victoria Mboko of Canada and Hailey Baptiste of the US, ranked 34rd, are other major names who won't be in action.

In short, US Open 2026: All to know about the schedule, top seeds and is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.