Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns to New York to defend his 2025 US Open title.
The 2026 US Open begins its singles main draw on August 30 and runs through September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. The tournament is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the 2026 tennis season.
The men's draw has been reshaped by the withdrawal of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns after a lengthy wrist injury layoff. Alexander Zverev is the new No. 1 seed, and Novak Djokovic enters the tournament with another chance to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title.
On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka is attempting to win a third consecutive US Open title. Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek headline a deep field in what could be one of the most competitive women's draws of the season.
This guide covers the US Open 2026 schedule, draw, seeds, prize money, contenders, defending champions and the biggest storylines to follow in New York.
- Quick Facts: 2026 US Open
- When and Where the 2026 US Open Takes Place
- Prize Money and Ranking Points
- Men's Draw: Top Seeds and Contenders
- Women's Draw: Top Seeds and Contenders
- Key Storylines to Follow
- Defending Champions from 2025
- Special Events Before the Main Draw
- Historical Context
- How to Watch
- FAQ
1. Quick Facts: 2026 US Open
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2026 US Open |
| Singles main draw | August 30 to September 13, 2026 |
| Overall event | August 23 to September 13, 2026 |
| Edition | 146th |
| Category | Grand Slam |
| Venue | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center |
| Location | Flushing Meadows, New York City |
| Surface | Outdoor hard court |
| Singles draw | 128 players |
| Seeds | 32 in each singles draw |
| Total player compensation | $108 million |
| Singles champion prize | $5.5 million |
| 2025 men's champion | Carlos Alcaraz |
| 2025 women's champion | Aryna Sabalenka |
2. When and Where the 2026 US Open Takes Place
The 2026 US Open singles main draw begins on Sunday, August 30, with the tournament concluding on September 13.
Qualifying was held from August 24 to August 27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The main singles draws were released on August 27.
The tournament is played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City.
The US Open has been played on hard courts at Flushing Meadows since 1978. The tournament itself dates back to 1881, making it one of the oldest major tennis championships in the world.
Arthur Ashe Stadium remains the centerpiece of the tournament and hosts many of the biggest matches, including the men's and women's singles finals.
3. Prize Money and Ranking Points
The 2026 US Open offers a record $108 million in total player compensation, a 20 percent increase from the $90 million package offered in 2025. The singles champions will each receive $5.5 million.
| Round | Prize Money | Ranking Points |
|---|---|---|
| Champion | $5,500,000 | 2,000 |
| Runner-up | $2,800,000 | 1,300 |
| Semifinal | $1,450,000 | 780 |
| Quarterfinal | $780,000 | 430 |
| Round of 16 | $480,000 | 240 |
| Round of 32 | $290,000 | 130 |
| Round of 64 | $190,000 | 70 |
| Round of 128 | $140,000 | 10 |
The first-round singles prize is $140,000 in 2026. The 2,000 ranking points awarded to each singles champion can also have a major impact on the ATP and WTA rankings.
4. Men's Draw: Top Seeds and Contenders
The biggest change in the men's field came before the tournament began.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the US Open because of injury. His withdrawal moved Alexander Zverev into the No. 1 seed position and made Carlos Alcaraz the No. 2 seed.
| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Zverev | Germany |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain |
| 3 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada |
| 4 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia |
| 5 | Flavio Cobolli | Italy |
| 6 | Alex de Minaur | Australia |
| 7 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia |
| 8 | Ben Shelton | United States |
Zverev takes the top position in the draw for the first time at a Grand Slam. Alcaraz occupies the opposite half, meaning the two highest seeds cannot meet before the final.
Carlos Alcaraz Returns
Alcaraz is one of the leading contenders in the men's singles draw.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
The Spaniard returns after a long absence caused by a wrist injury. He is defending the title he won in 2025 after defeating Sinner in the final.
Alcaraz opens his title defense against Roman Safiullin. His lack of recent match play adds an interesting question to the draw. He has the ranking and Grand Slam experience to be a favorite, but he must quickly regain his competitive rhythm.
Novak Djokovic's 25th Major Bid
Djokovic enters New York with a chance to win his 25th Grand Slam singles title.
Novak Djokovic is seeded fourth and occupies the same half of the draw as Alcaraz.
The Serbian enters New York with 24 Grand Slam singles titles. A US Open victory would give him a record 25th men's major singles title.
Sinner's absence is particularly significant for Djokovic because the Italian has become one of his most difficult recent opponents. The draw now gives Djokovic a different route to a possible final.
American Men Have a Major Opportunity
The United States has several strong contenders in the men's draw.
Ben Shelton is seeded eighth after an excellent summer hard-court run. Taylor Fritz is seeded ninth, while Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima are also dangerous players in New York.
The American men's field has generated particular interest after strong results during the North American hard-court swing.
The American men's drought at the US Open is another major storyline. Andy Roddick was the last American man to win the singles title, in 2003.
Projected Men's Quarterfinal Paths
- Alexander Zverev vs. Alex de Minaur
- Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Flavio Cobolli
- Daniil Medvedev vs. Novak Djokovic
- Ben Shelton vs. Carlos Alcaraz
These are projected matchups based on the seedings and draw structure. Actual quarterfinals will depend on results during the tournament.
5. Women's Draw: Top Seeds and Contenders
The women's draw is packed with major champions, rising stars, and American contenders.
Sabalenka is attempting to win her third consecutive US Open women's singles title.
| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | United States |
| 4 | Coco Gauff | United States |
| 5 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia |
| 6 | Linda Noskova | Czech Republic |
| 7 | Karolina Muchova | Czech Republic |
| 8 | Iga Swiatek | Poland |
Aryna Sabalenka Chasing History
Sabalenka is trying to win her third consecutive US Open women's singles title.
She opens against Camila Osorio and is positioned in the top half of the draw alongside Pegula, Noskova and Muchova.
A third straight title would put Sabalenka alongside one of the most notable achievements of the Open Era. Serena Williams won three consecutive US Open titles from 2012 through 2014.
Rybakina, Gauff and Swiatek Lead a Dangerous Field
Rybakina is the No. 2 seed, while Gauff is No. 4 and Swiatek is No. 8. Mirra Andreeva, the French Open champion, is seeded fifth.
The lower half of the women's draw contains several potential blockbuster matchups. The exact quarterfinal lineup will depend on results throughout the first three rounds.
Recent North American hard-court results are also important context for the women's field. Read our coverage of the 2026 Cincinnati Open for more recent WTA action.
American Hopes
Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are two of the biggest American contenders.
Pegula enters as the No. 3 seed, while Gauff is No. 4. Both have already shown that they can perform on the North American hard-court swing.
Coco Gauff's rise has been one of the biggest stories in American tennis. Read more about Coco Gauff's rise in American tennis and her development on the world stage.
Alexandra Eala's Historic Seeding
Alexandra Eala enters the tournament as a seeded player after a rapid rise through the rankings. The Filipina is seeded No. 17 and is one of the notable young players to watch in New York.
Her progress has made her one of the most interesting emerging players in women's tennis.
6. Key Storylines to Follow
Sinner's Absence
Jannik Sinner's withdrawal has changed the entire men's draw.
The world No. 1 would have been one of the leading favorites, but his absence opens the door for Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic and other contenders.
Alcaraz's Comeback
Alcaraz is defending his title after a long wrist injury layoff.
His first few matches will reveal whether he can quickly recover his Grand Slam-level rhythm.
Djokovic's Record Attempt
Djokovic has 24 Grand Slam singles titles. One more would give him 25, creating another historic milestone in his career.
Sabalenka's Three-Peat Attempt
Sabalenka is attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Open singles titles.
Rybakina's Fitness
Rybakina enters as the No. 2 seed, so her physical condition will be closely watched throughout the opening rounds.
American Title Hopes
The American men's field has generated particular excitement following strong summer results from Shelton, Fritz, Tiafoe and Nakashima.
The women's field also features several strong American contenders, led by Pegula and Gauff.
Final US Open Appearances
Stan Wawrinka is playing his final US Open main draw. The 2016 champion is one of several former men's singles champions competing in New York.
Gael Monfils is also competing in his final US Open.
Venus Williams Returns
Another major storyline is Venus Williams.
The 46-year-old received a wild card and will face fellow American and former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round.
7. Defending Champions from 2025
| Event | 2025 Champion(s) |
|---|---|
| Men's singles | Carlos Alcaraz |
| Women's singles | Aryna Sabalenka |
| Men's doubles | Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos |
| Women's doubles | Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe |
| Mixed doubles | Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik |
Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in the 2025 men's singles final, while Sabalenka captured the women's singles title.
Dabrowski and Routliffe also return as defending women's doubles champions.
8. Special Events Before the Main Draw
The US Open is more than two weeks of singles and doubles competition.
Fan Week featured several events before the main draw, including Arthur Ashe Kids' Day and exhibition matches.
One of the most notable events was Roger Federer's return to Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Federer took part in an exhibition against Andy Roddick before teaming with John McEnroe against Roddick and Andre Agassi in doubles. It marked Federer's return to the US Open site after his retirement in 2022.
The tournament also hosted Stars of the Open, featuring several emerging and established players.
9. Historical Context
The US Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments and the final major of the tennis season.
The championship began in 1881 and has gone through several major changes in location and surface.
The tournament moved to Flushing Meadows in 1978 and became the first Grand Slam to use a hard-court surface.
Its position as the final Grand Slam gives the US Open particular importance in the year-end ranking race.
The tournament has produced some of the most memorable champions in tennis history, including Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras and many other legends.
For more Grand Slam background, you can also explore our earlier coverage of the 2022 French Open .
The 2026 tournament adds another chapter to that history as Sabalenka attempts to match Serena Williams' three-title Open Era streak.
10. How to Watch
Packed night sessions are one of the defining features of the US Open.
US Open broadcast rights vary by country.
Fans should check the official US Open website and their national broadcaster for the latest 2026 television and streaming information.
International viewers should check local rights holders because broadcast arrangements differ by territory.
11. FAQ
When does the 2026 US Open start and end?
The 2026 US Open singles main draw begins on August 30 and runs through September 13, 2026, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Where is the 2026 US Open played?
The tournament is played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York City.
Who are the defending champions?
Carlos Alcaraz is the defending men's singles champion, while Aryna Sabalenka is the defending women's singles champion.
Why is Jannik Sinner not playing?
Sinner withdrew from the tournament because of injury. His absence moved Alexander Zverev into the No. 1 seed position.
How much prize money is on offer at the 2026 US Open?
The total player compensation is $108 million. Each men's and women's singles champion will receive $5.5 million.
How much does a first-round singles player earn?
A player reaching the singles first round receives $140,000 in 2026.
How many players are in each singles draw?
Each men's and women's singles main draw contains 128 players, including 32 seeded players.
Can Alcaraz and Zverev meet before the final?
No. They are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and are placed in opposite halves of the men's singles draw, so they can meet only in the final if both reach that stage.
Can Djokovic win a record 25th Grand Slam?
Yes. Djokovic enters the 2026 US Open with 24 Grand Slam singles titles. Winning the tournament would give him 25 men's major singles titles.
Who is the women's No. 1 seed?
Aryna Sabalenka is the No. 1 seed and defending champion. She is attempting to win her third consecutive US Open title.
What is special about Alexandra Eala's 2026 US Open?
Eala enters the tournament as a seeded player after a rapid rise through the rankings. She is one of the young players attracting attention in the women's draw.
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