Sabalenka, Sinner lead the field at US Open

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 23, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner will headline the 2026 US Open, set to begin on August 30 in New York, with the tournament featuring top-ranked players returning from injury and aiming for major titles. The event's strong field highlights key storylines such as Sabalenka’s quest for a third consecutive US Open win and the potential wildcard entry of Serena Williams following her recent comeback.

Two-time defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and Wimbledon titleholder Jannik Sinner are set to lead the fields at the upcoming US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the 2026 tennis season. The event, scheduled to begin on August 30 in Flushing Meadows, New York, will feature a strong lineup following the release of the direct entry lists by the United States Tennis Association on Tuesday.

The cutoff for direct acceptance into the tournament was No. 102 on the WTA Tour for women and No. 101 on the ATP Tour for men, based on the July 20 rankings. Sabalenka, currently the top-ranked woman, is aiming to extend her dominance by securing a third consecutive US Open title—a feat not achieved since Serena Williams accomplished it from 2012 to 2014. On the men’s side, Italy’s Sinner enters the competition as the highest-ranked player, coming off his fifth major victory after defeating Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon. He will look to reclaim the US Open crown he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final.

Alcaraz, ranked No. 3, returns to the draw after missing the last two major tournaments due to a wrist injury. He is expected to compete during the North American hard-court season, which includes the US Open.

The United States boasts the largest representation, with 14 men and 14 women gaining direct entry. Anastasia Zakharova secured the final women’s spot at No. 102, while Filip Misolic, using a protected ranking of No. 101, fills out the men’s list. Misolic is among eight players—five women and three men—granted special or protected rankings to enter the tournament despite recent absences or injuries.

The remaining places in the 128-player singles draws will be completed through wild cards awarded by the USTA and qualifying tournaments held in the week preceding the main event. Among wild card expectations is Serena Williams, who at 44 recently returned to competition but suffered a knee injury during her first-round match at Wimbledon. If she is fit and opts to participate, Williams is anticipated to receive a wildcard entry.

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