US Open Draw 2026 – Perfect Tennis

The US Open important draw is out, and the play kicks off on Sunday, however has the event already peaked?

Roger Federer has been again in New York for the primary time since 2019, drawing a packed crowd only for a follow session with Lorenzo Musetti on Arthur Ashe earlier than returning underneath the lights to face previous rival Andy Roddick.

Federer then teamed up with John McEnroe in opposition to Roddick and Andre Agassi, and it was most likely extra entertaining than half the matches we’ll see over the following fortnight 😁.

There was additionally some late excellent news for Stan Wawrinka. The 2016 champion was inexplicably neglected for a wild card regardless of this being the ultimate season of his profession, a choice that generated loads of backlash from followers.

Fortuitously, Patrick Kypson subsequently withdrew by way of damage, releasing up the ultimate wild card and permitting Wawrinka to make one final look at Flushing Meadows, ten years after beating Novak Djokovic to win the title.

And the draw has even given us the potential of one ultimate Wawrinka-Djokovic assembly, with Stan going through Matteo Berrettini in spherical one and the winner prone to meet Djokovic within the second spherical.

Jannik Sinner is out injured, Alexander Zverev takes over as prime seed after successful Roland Garros and reaching the Wimbledon ultimate, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns after not enjoying a aggressive singles match since April.

Djokovic continues to be looking quantity 25, Ben Shelton and a number of other of the People arrive in glorious type, and all 5 former US Open champions within the draw have one way or the other ended up within the backside half.

So, Federer nostalgia out of the best way, let’s check out the 2026 US Open draw.

Match Information

US Open 2026 Males’s Singles

Seeds

Alexander Zverev
Carlos Alcaraz
Félix Auger-Aliassime
Novak Djokovic
Flavio Cobolli
Alex de Minaur
Daniil Medvedev
Ben Shelton
Taylor Fritz
Arthur Fils
Frances Tiafoe
Rafael Jódar
Lorenzo Musetti
Learner Tien
Alexander Bublik
Brandon Nakashima
Jakub Menšík
Jiří Lehečka
Casper Ruud
Tommy Paul
Luciano Darderi
Valentin Vacherot
Andrey Rublev
Francisco Cerúndolo
Alejandro Tabilo
Arthur Rinderknech
Ugo Humbert
Tomás Martín Etcheverry
Alexander Blockx
Cameron Norrie
Matteo Arnaldi
Zizou Bergs

Wild Playing cards

Protected Rating

Qualifiers

Fortunate Losers

Withdrawals

2026 US Open Draw

High Half

Backside Half

PDF Draw

Ideas on the Draw

With Jannik Sinner compelled to withdraw by way of damage, the boys’s draw on the 2026 US Open appears significantly extra open than it might need accomplished a couple of weeks in the past.

Alexander Zverev takes over as the highest seed following a formidable Grand Slam season, however he’s had a little bit of a stoop lately, whereas defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns after a number of months out with a wrist damage and most of the people suppose he appears out of form.

Novak Djokovic is chasing the elusive twenty fifth Grand Slam title, a number of People arrive in glorious type, and all 5 former US Open champions within the area have landed within the backside half.

Right here’s a take a look at the draw quarter by quarter.

First Quarter: Led by Alexander Zverev (1)

Seeded Gamers: Alexander Zverev (1), Alex de Minaur (6), Rafael Jodar (12), Lorenzo Musetti (13), Casper Ruud (19), Luciano Darderi (21), Alejandro Tabilo (25), Zizou Bergs (31)

Notable First-Spherical Matches

Evaluation

On paper, Zverev must be fairly proud of this draw.

The German arrives in New York as the highest seed after lastly breaking his Grand Slam duck at Roland Garros after which backing it up by reaching the Wimbledon ultimate.

He has gone 18-2 on the majors this 12 months and, with Sinner absent and Alcaraz coming back from a prolonged damage layoff, it is a first rate alternative, and he’s performed effectively in New York earlier than.

Nonetheless, his type in Montreal and Cincy wasn’t notably convincing, and Lorenzo Sonego isn’t the best first-round opponent.

You’d suppose Zverev ought to have an excessive amount of for the Italian over 5 units, and his projected route of Tabilo, Musetti and De Minaur appears manageable.

Outdoors of that, essentially the most attention-grabbing participant on this quarter might be Rafael Jodar.

The younger Spaniard is now seeded twelfth after his speedy rise, and his opening match in opposition to Thanasi Kokkinakis ought to give us a very good indication of what he can do in New York.

In contrast to at Wimbledon, there shouldn’t be any questions on whether or not the floor fits him. Exhausting courts are much more acquainted territory, and if he will get by way of Kokkinakis, there’s a makeable path to the fourth spherical.

Lorenzo Musetti occupies the opposite a part of Zverev’s part however has a difficult opener in opposition to Britain’s Arthur Fery, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this summer season.

I don’t suppose Fery is an entire flash within the pan, and he’s enjoying some first rate stuff in Winston-Salem as I write, so an upset isn’t unthinkable.

On the backside of the quarter, Alex de Minaur appears the apparent favorite to succeed in the final eight primarily based on rating, however he’s misplaced a couple of matches recently that you just wouldn’t have anticipated.

Casper Ruud is the opposite established title, however I don’t actually like what I’ve seen of him recently, and he doesn’t appear to carry serve simply; his part, that includes Zizou Bergs and Botic van de Zandschulp, isn’t easy.

Second Quarter: Led by Felix Auger-Aliassime (3)

Seeded Gamers: Felix Auger-Aliassime (3), Flavio Cobolli (5), Taylor Fritz (9), Learner Tien (14), Jakub Mensik (17), Francisco Cerundolo (24), Alexander Blockx (28), Ignacio Buse (32)

Notable First-Spherical Matches

Evaluation

Felix Auger-Aliassime is the very best seed, however there are a number of gamers right here who will fancy their possibilities of reaching the semi-finals.

The Canadian begins in opposition to Rinky Hijikata and has an inexpensive route on paper, though his part consists of Jakub Mensik and Learner Tien, two gamers able to inflicting critical issues on exhausting courts.

Tien has loved a wonderful season, reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals, making one other last-eight run at Indian Wells, and reaching the Montreal semi-finals.

He has the form of recreation that may frustrate extra highly effective opponents, and his potential fourth-round match in opposition to Auger-Aliassime could possibly be one of many extra attention-grabbing encounters of the second week.

There may be additionally Gael Monfils, who’s enjoying the ultimate Grand Slam event of his profession earlier than retirement. At 39, anticipating a deep run appears unlikely, however you by no means know if he’s received another night time session in him the place he upsets the apple cart.

The underside part sees Taylor Fritz arrive after a wonderful North American summer season, successful in Washington, and he additionally is aware of precisely what it takes to go deep right here after reaching the 2024 ultimate.

His opener in opposition to 18-year-old Darwin Blanch, who appears to be extremely proficient at receiving wild playing cards, must be easy, and a fourth-round assembly with Flavio Cobolli appears the most definitely end result.

Cobolli is the upper seed, however Fritz’s US Open pedigree makes him the favorite in my ebook, and I believe he most likely has the most effective likelihood among the many American contingent.

Alexander Blockx and Francisco Cerundolo are additionally lurking, however this appears like an enormous alternative for the American.

Third Quarter: Led by Novak Djokovic (4)

Seeded Gamers: Novak Djokovic (4), Daniil Medvedev (7), Frances Tiafoe (11), Brandon Nakashima (16), Valentin Vacherot (22), Andrey Rublev (23), Arthur Rinderknech (26), Tomas Martin Etcheverry (27)

Notable First-Spherical Matches

Evaluation

That is simply essentially the most attention-grabbing quarter within the draw.

4 former US Open champions are packed into it: Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka.

Add two in-form People in Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima, and there are attention-grabbing matches virtually in every single place you look.

Djokovic has to view this event as a serious alternative, with Sinner absent and Alcaraz arriving after an extended damage layoff; one of many two largest obstacles to quantity 25 has disappeared earlier than a ball is struck.

Sinner has turn into considered one of his most tough opponents, successful 5 of their previous six conferences, together with a straight-sets victory within the Wimbledon semi-finals, in order that’s an enormous enhance for his possibilities.

Djokovic begins in opposition to Mariano Navone and must be anticipated to progress, as Navone is bang common on exhausting courts (undecided how he beat Berrettini in Montreal).

Spherical two could possibly be the place issues get way more attention-grabbing. Matteo Berrettini faces Stan Wawrinka in one of many standout first-round matches, with the winner drawn to fulfill Djokovic.

For Wawrinka, that is the ultimate main of his profession, ten years after he gained the 2016 US Open, the place he defeated Djokovic within the ultimate.

A ultimate title problem at 41 is unrealistic, however one final night-session assembly with Djokovic in New York can be some event, and I believe he can beat Berrettini as he might have accomplished so at Wimbledon (4 shut units) on by far his weakest floor

Earlier than Djokovic can take into consideration the quarter-finals, Brandon Nakashima may be ready within the fourth spherical, and the American has arguably produced the most effective hard-court stretch of his profession over the previous few weeks. Boring as hell to look at, however he’s tremendous stable and positively not simple to place away.

He reached his first Masters 1000 ultimate in Montreal, shedding to Ben Shelton, then instantly backed that up by reaching the Cincinnati semi-finals.

The opposite half of the quarter centres round Daniil Medvedev and Frances Tiafoe.

Medvedev begins in opposition to a qualifier or fortunate loser, however Arthur Rinderknech is a doable third-round opponent earlier than Tiafoe probably waits within the fourth.

Tiafoe comes into New York on the again of reaching his second Cincinnati Masters ultimate. Whereas Medvedev is available in after a string of early losses, his most up-to-date in Winston-Salem, the place he was considering switching to pickleball as tennis sucks 😁

Huge Foe defeated three top-20 opponents throughout Cincy earlier than shedding to Arthur Fils within the championship match, and few gamers appear to achieve extra from the New York crowd

Tiafoe reached the US Open semi-finals in each 2022 and 2024, and his mixture of athleticism, shotmaking and showmanship makes him notably harmful right here.

Marin Cilic additionally deserves a point out. The 2014 champion begins in opposition to Andrey Rublev, giving this quarter one more glorious first-round contest, and I believe he can win that too as Rublev can also be in rubbish type.

Fourth Quarter: Led by Carlos Alcaraz (2)

Seeded Gamers: Carlos Alcaraz (2), Ben Shelton (8), Arthur Fils (10), Alexander Bublik (15), Jiri Lehecka (18), Tommy Paul (20), Cameron Norrie (29), Matteo Arnaldi (30)

Notable First-Spherical Matches

Evaluation

Ordinarily, Carlos Alcaraz can be the overwhelming favorite to come back by way of it. However provided that he hasn’t struck a ball in anger for a number of months, no person may be completely positive.

The defending champion has not performed a aggressive singles match since April after struggling a wrist damage through the European clay swing.

So going straight from greater than 4 months with out matchplay into best-of-five tennis at a Grand Slam is a big ask.

Federer managed it on the Aus Open in 2017 (okay, he performed 3 singles matches on the Hopman Cup, however Alcaraz additionally performed Combined Doubles, so I believe the comparability is legitimate), so we’ll see if the Spaniard is made of comparable stuff.

To prime it off, his first-round opponent is hardly preferrred. Roman Safiullin has a 1-1 report in opposition to the Spaniard and produced one of many largest wins of his profession when he defeated Alcaraz in straight units on the 2023 Paris Masters.

Alcaraz will nonetheless be a heavy favorite, but when his recreation is rusty, Safiullin has sufficient energy off each wings to show it.

His projected route consists of Matteo Arnaldi in spherical three, then a doable fourth-round assembly with both Alexander Bublik or Tommy Paul. That’s not a straightforward return to competitors.

On the opposite facet of the quarter is among the pre-tournament favourites, with Ben Shelton arriving because the highest-ranked American and with 4 titles already this season.

He gained Dallas in February, turned the primary American man since Andre Agassi to win the Munich title in April, beat Fritz to win Stuttgart on grass, after which efficiently defended his Canadian Masters crown by successful Montreal.

He didn’t drop a set throughout his six-match Montreal run, defeating Brandon Nakashima within the ultimate. Shelton begins in opposition to Tallon Griekspoor and will face Cameron Norrie within the third spherical. Not simple however greater than doable.

Arthur Fils could also be his largest impediment earlier than the quarter-finals. The Frenchman arrives because the Cincinnati champion after beating Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 within the ultimate to assert his first Masters 1000 title.

Fils additionally beat Alex de Minaur and Flavio Cobolli through the event and has now climbed to a career-high rating simply outdoors the highest ten.

His first-round match in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas might be the choose of the opening spherical. Tsitsipas is a two-time Grand Slam finalist and former world quantity three, however his trajectory has been within the actual other way of Fils.

On present type, the Greek has no likelihood; he misplaced to Kovacevic in Winston-Salem yesterday, and I wouldn’t even be satisfied he’d beat somebody enjoying with a stick of rhubarb as a substitute of a racket.

Jiri Lehecka can also be in that part, which means Shelton might probably have to come back by way of Norrie after which both Lehecka or Fils simply to succeed in the quarter-finals.

If Alcaraz is wherever close to what he usually produces, I’d nonetheless make him the favorite as I simply don’t suppose the extent is that top on tour proper now.

Greatest First-Spherical Matches to Watch

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Arthur Fils (10) – This might need been nice 4 years in the past, however in 2026 I’m not positive. Fils arrives instantly from the most important title of his profession, beating Tiafoe to win Cincinnati, whereas Tsitsipas hasn’t had an enormous win in a very long time.

Matteo Berrettini vs Stan Wawrinka – Wawrinka is enjoying the ultimate Grand Slam of his profession ten years after successful the US Open, whereas Berrettini possesses sufficient serve and forehand firepower to hassle virtually anybody. The winner is prone to face Djokovic.

Roman Safiullin vs Carlos Alcaraz (2) – Alcaraz’s first aggressive singles match since April comes in opposition to any person who has already crushed him. Safiullin defeated the Spaniard in straight units on the 2023 Paris Masters and may not less than present a right away check of Alcaraz’s timing and wrist.

Marin Cilic vs Andrey Rublev (23) – The 2014 US Open champion in opposition to one of many tour’s largest ball-strikers. Cilic is now 37, however his serve and first-strike tennis stay, whereas Rublev is on a rankings slide.

Rafael Jodar (12) vs Thanasi Kokkinakis – Jodar has gone from thrilling prospect to real top-level participant remarkably shortly. He reached the Washington ultimate and Montreal semi-finals through the North American swing, however Kokkinakis has the serve and energy to make this an uncomfortable opener; finally, he’ll most likely lose in 5 units.

Arthur Fery vs Lorenzo Musetti (13) – Fery was the shock bundle at Wimbledon, reaching the semi-finals as a wild card, whereas Musetti reached the US Open quarter-finals final 12 months. This could inform us loads about whether or not Fery’s Wimbledon breakthrough was the true deal and whether or not Federer has given Musetti a lift throughout their follow.

Ben Shelton (8) vs Tallon Griekspoor – Shelton enters his dwelling Slam after successful the Canadian Masters with out dropping a set. Griekspoor possesses a large enough serve and forehand to maintain units tight, so Shelton is not going to wish to give him an early foothold.

Alexander Zverev (1) vs Lorenzo Sonego – The brand new prime seed begins in opposition to an skilled opponent relatively than an entire pushover. Zverev has gained Roland Garros and reached the Wimbledon ultimate this season, however Sonego’s serve and willingness to assault ought to not less than pressure him to begin sharply.

Zverev most likely has the cleanest draw of the main contenders and arrives having reached the ultimate of every of the previous two Grand Slams, successful Roland Garros and ending runner-up at Wimbledon.

Djokovic has one other real alternative to succeed in 25 majors, though I’m undecided what to anticipate; physicality has been a problem for him recently, and if it’s humid in New York, opponents will know what to do.

The American problem additionally appears stronger than it has for a while. Shelton has gained 4 titles this season, together with Montreal; Fritz gained Washington and has already been a US Open finalist; Tiafoe arrives from the Cincinnati ultimate; and Nakashima has simply reached successive Masters 1000 semi-finals.

Then there’s Alcaraz. Can he come again from greater than 4 months with out aggressive singles and instantly win seven best-of-five matches? We all know Federer might, and the fashionable armchair followers suppose Alcaraz is best, so we’re about to search out out.

Who do you suppose will raise the US Open trophy? Let me know your predictions within the feedback beneath.