The bad news is that Jannik Sinner isn't at this year’s US Open, and that Novak Djokovic is already out after the first day.
The good news is that Carlos Alcaraz and Alex Zverev are still there, and this could also provide a great opportunity for someone else to claim their maiden US Open title in the absence of the big names.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 US Open, which is already underway.
- Start: Already underway; finishes 13 September
- Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York, USA
- Live Coverage: Sky Sports Tennis / Sky Sports Main Event
- Fun Fact: Jannik Sinner is the first world No.1 this century to miss the US Open. The Italian withdrew with a knee injury, meaning this is the first US Open since 1999 without the men's world No.1 in the draw.
Best Bet: Back Alex Zverev to Win the US Open @4.33
As explained below, the consensus seems to be that if Carlos Alcaraz’s body can last for two weeks here at Flushing Meadows, it will be tough to beat him. That’s fair enough, but that’s a considerable ‘if’ for a man who almost hasn’t played for four months.
How much will he have left in the tank if he needs to go to a fifth set in the heat and humidity of New York?
Which brings us to Alex Zverev. He’s a top-class player whose biggest sin has been not beating some of the best the game has ever seen in big finals. But then again, he may not need to. That's exactly what happened at Roland Garros earlier this year: as the big favourites dropped like flies for various reasons, he was the last man standing.
With no Jannik Sinner, no Novak Djokovic anymore and a question mark over Carlos Alcaraz, he may not have to play one of the game’s giants at all throughout the tournament.
He should be too good for anyone facing him in his first four or five matches, and if he does make another final, he may just make it two GS wins for the season.
Sinner No-Show and Djokovic Out of the Show
Since the retirements of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal a few years ago, men’s tennis has been dominated by the elder statesman that is Novak Djokovic, the big heir to Nadal in the form of fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and the winning machine that is Jannik Sinner.
But here we are on just the second day of the tournament, and the only one of those three left in it is Alcaraz.
Alcaraz Still In, but for How Long?
Completing the trio of multi-Grand Slam winners, with injury concerns, is Carlos Alcaraz.
After winning the Australian Open in January to complete his career Grand Slam, he suffered a wrist injury in April, which forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon.
He teamed up with Serena Williams to play mixed doubles in the run-up to this tournament to get some much-needed match practice, but that’s not going to prepare him in the best way for a brutal five-setter against a fit and hungry opponent in humid, energy-sapping conditions in New York over the next two weeks.
So he’ll need to rely on endless winners, big serving and his impressive net game rather than stamina, if he’s going to go deep over the next fortnight.
That said, only he will know just how fit and injury-free he is, so as well as he might play, the state of his body will always be a concern.
Latest Betting Odds for US Open Glory
The bookies are showing plenty of respect to Alcaraz and feel that though he may be a bit rusty, he has the shots, the big-game mentality and the quality to go all the way, making him the 3.25 favourite to win what would be his third US Open title. Many will be thinking that if his body holds up, he's very much the man to beat, but will it?
If not, then Alexander Zverev could be adding to his sole Grand Slam title after winning the French Open earlier this year. The German has also made the final in all of the other three Grand Slams, including here in New York back in 2020, so he’s no stranger to coming close at the big ones, but now aged 29, he needs to start turning those final appearances into wins. He’s the second favourite at 4.33 odds.
Next in the betting are Frenchman Arthur Fils, who has had his own injury problems but comes here as a highly-rated 10th seed and is 11.0, the same price as American pair Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, who are also looking for their maiden Grand Slam title.
Russian big-server and he of the monster forehand, Daniil Medvedev, has seen it all before, including winning this event in 2021, and has the tools to beat anyone on his day, though he’s had fewer of those sorts of days recently; he’s 23.0.
