The US Open is simultaneously over and yet to begin. Following a big change to the structure of the final tennis Grand Slam of the year, the mixed doubles became a separate, standalone event last season. This year’s event took place over three days, starting on the 24th of August. The singles event, however, is yet to start, at least as far as the main draw is concerned.
Qualifying began for the men’s and women’s singles on the 24th of August, but the tournament proper will not begin until Sunday the 30th of August. Our focus in this article is the men’s draw, where Novak Djokovic may just have a chance of winning that elusive, record-breaking, 25th Grand Slam title.
Carlos is BACK! 🤩
Alcaraz is all smiles ahead of his #USOpen return 🗽 pic.twitter.com/JrpIbeMkBi
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 25, 2026
Alcaraz Returns But Sinner Misses Out
People who simply love tennis, without any particular bias in favour of specific individuals, are desperate to see the game’s modern-day big two back to their best and back in finals against each other. Jannik Sinner won his first major at the 2024 Australian Open. Carlos Alcaraz claimed his third and fourth at the next two Slams before Sinner fully established the concept of the big two by winning the US Open.
The rivals shared all four majors again in 2025, and then Alcaraz completed the career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open. However, he then had to miss the French Open and Wimbledon, along with a host of other tournaments, due to a wrist injury.
Much to the excitement of his fans and tennis neutrals, the Spaniard returns in New York, bidding to defend the crown he won in 2025. But hopes of another epic clash between him and Sinner were dashed when the Italian announced he would have to miss the tournament.
The world number one revealed he would not be able to reclaim the title he lifted in 2024 due to an injury to his right knee. On the 21st of August, he said he would “not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” adding that he was “very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart”.
Sinner had been forced to withdraw from hard court events in Montreal and Cincinnati but had hoped to be fit for the US Open. However, after hitting some balls in Monte Carlo, he said he “realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue”.
Alcaraz Installed as Favourite
With Sinner injured, the returning world number three is deemed the man most likely to win in New York. The final will take place on the 13th of September, and the bookies offer odds of 9/4 that it is Alcaraz’s wide smile we will see at the conclusion.
Given he last played a competitive match back in April, on clay at the Barcelona Open, many may feel that is a short price. He would no doubt have liked to have been able to play one of the warm-up events ahead of the US Open, but that has not been possible.
Players have come straight back from injuries before and won, but four months away from the court is a long time and this is a Slam, not just any old tournament. Alcaraz would no doubt love to beat the best en route to claiming his eighth major, but the reality is that the absence of Sinner does boost his chances considerably.
Of course, the form that the Italian has been in this year, his withdrawal due to injury greatly increases everyone’s hopes of winning. Alexander Zverev is ranked number two in the world and the bookies also make him their second favourite. The powerful German, who claimed his first Slam at the French Open, is priced at odds of 15/4.
He has improved many areas of his game this year. He is more aggressive, and his big serve is now an even more potent weapon. His record in New York is not great, though. He made the final in 2020 but has done no better than the last eight in the last three editions of the US Open.
Can Djokovic Make Hay?
Djokovic has been level with Margaret Court on 24 singles Grand Slams, the most in history, since he won his last major at the 2023 US Open. Given he won three Slams that year and made the final in the other, he would have expected to have had sole ownership of the record by now. Instead, he has been unable to claim that elusive 25th Grand Slam. Defeats in the final at Wimbledon in 2024 and Australia this year are as close as he has come.
Time is not on his side, and as each year goes by, the likelihood of him winning another of the game’s big four tournaments decreases. Things could be different at the US Open this year though. With Sinner absent and Alcaraz having spent so long on the sidelines, the Serb will feel he has a real chance.
He is the fourth seed but the third favourite, priced at odds of 7/1. Many would love to see the Serbian have one last hurrah and perhaps this will be it. If none of the three favourites wins, perhaps one of the home contenders might have a chance, with Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz priced at 8/1 and 14/1, respectively.