US Open 2026: Alcaraz Returns After Four Months Out to Defend His Title, But Sinner Misses Slam While Sabalenka Chases Three-Peat
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
Alcaraz's Comeback Is the Story of the Tournament
The defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, has not hit a competitive ball since the Barcelona Open in mid-April. A right wrist injury shut down his entire clay and grass seasons, forcing him to miss Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Canadian Open and Cincinnati.
Alcaraz dropped 1,000 ranking points at Cincinnati alone. And as the weeks passed without a return date, the question became whether he would make it back in time for the 2026 US Open at all.
Now Alcaraz is back, seeded second behind Alexander Zverev and scheduled to open against Roman Safiullin on Sunday.
The draw has placed him in the same half as fourth seed Novak Djokovic, meaning the two could meet in the semi-finals but not before. Alcaraz also enters the mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams, a pairing that has generated as many headlines as the singles draw itself.
Meanwhile, Zverev, the Roland Garros champion, is the top seed after Sinner's withdrawal bumped every player up one position. Djokovic is seeded fourth and continues to chase a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
Sinner's Absence Reshapes the Men's Draw
Sinner has not played since winning Wimbledon in July. The living Italian legend skipped the Canadian Open, withdrew from Cincinnati and has now pulled out of the US Open with the same right knee problem.
His absence means:
- The world No. 1 has gone the entire North American hard-court swing without competing, and
- The US Open seedings have been adjusted accordingly, with every man seeded one place above his actual ranking.
- Also, with Sinner gone, the top half opens up for Zverev, while the bottom half has Alcaraz, Djokovic, Shelton and Fils all stacked together.
- Auger-Aliassime is the third seed on Zverev's side.
Women's Draw: Sabalenka's Three-Peat Bid Meets a Four-Way Fight for No. 1
Sabalenka arrives as the top seed and two-time defending champion, but her 2026 form has been patchy. She exited Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati all before the quarter-finals, with only a fourth-round showing in each.
But a third consecutive US Open title would make her the first woman to achieve the feat here since Serena Williams won three straight from 2012 to 2014.
Elena Rybakina, seeded second, sits just 434 points behind Sabalenka in the live WTA rankings. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula is third, and Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion and newly crowned Cincinnati winner, is fourth.
All four are in contention for the year-end No. 1 position, and results in New York could determine who holds it.
Venus at 46, British Exits, Eala Seeded
Venus Williams accepted a wildcard for her 26th US Open and opens against fellow wild card Sofia Kenin today. At 46, she also enters in the women's doubles with Serena.
In other news, Alexandra Eala, the first Filipino to crack the top 20, is seeded at 17th in the draw.
What’s more, on the British front, both Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu have withdrawn, leaving Katie Boulter as the only British singles player in either main draw.
US Open 2026: Tournament Details
| Tournament | 2026 US Open (146th edition) |
|---|---|
| Main draw dates | Sunday, August 30 to Sunday, September 13 |
| Venue | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York |
| Surface | Hard (outdoor) |
| Men's defending champion | Carlos Alcaraz (2nd seed) |
| Women's defending champion | Aryna Sabalenka (1st seed) |
| Total prize money | $108 million (record, 21% increase) |
| Singles champion prize | $5.5 million |
| Men's top seed | Alexander Zverev |
| Biggest absence | Jannik Sinner (right knee) |
